Cyclopropanecarboxamido-substitute aromatic compounds as anti-tumor agents

ABSTRACT

Provided are cyclopropanecarboxamido-substituted aromatic compounds that inhibit protein kinases and their use in anti-tumor area. In particular, tyrosine-kinase inhibitors and Raf-kinase inhibitors as anti-tumor agents, their preparation, pharmaceutical composition, and their use in the treatment of cancer are also provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to novel cyclopropanecarboxamido-substituted aromatic compounds that inhibit protein kinases and their use in anti-tumor area. In particular, the invention relates to novel tyrosine-kinase inhibitors and Raf-kinase inhibitors as anti-tumor agents, their preparation, pharmaceutical composition, and their use in the treatment of cancer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Protein kinases have become targets of intense drug discovery efforts for the past 10-15 years (Cohen, Nat. Rev. Drug Discov., 2002, 1(4), 309-315; Sebolt-Leopold, Nature Review Cancer, 2004, 4, 937-947). Small molecule inhibitors of Ras-Raf-Mek-Erk pathway have been the focus of many studies (Thompson, et al., Curr. Opin. Pharmacology, 2005, 5, 1-7; US patent Application 2003/0216446). Raf inhibitors have been proposed to be used in inhibiting cancer cell growth and in the treatment of cancers, including histiocytic lymphoma, lung adenocarcinoma, small-cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and breast cancer. Recently, the approval of Zelboraf® (Vemurafenib by Plexxikon/Roche) for B-Raf mutated metastatic melanoma further demonstrates the attractiveness of the target.

Disruption of VEGFR signaling is a very attractive target in cancer therapy, as angiogenesis is a prerequisite for all solid tumor growth (Folkman, J. National Cancer Institute, 1990, 82, 4-6) and that the mature endothelium remains relatively quiescent (except for female reproductive system and wound healing), consequently, targeting of pro-angiogenesis pathway becomes a strategy being widely pursued to provide new therapeutics in cancer area.

WO2008/115263 to Curis relates to Raf kinase inhibitors containing zinc-binding and their use in the treatment of Raf related diseases and disorders such as cancer. The said derivatives may further act as HDAC inhibitors.

WO2008/033747 to Curis relates to the compositions, methods, and applications of a novel approach to selective inhibition of several cellular or molecular targets with a single small molecule. More specifically, the present invention relates to multi-functional small molecules wherein one functionality is capable of inhibiting histone deacetylases (HDAC) and the other functionality is capable of inhibiting a different cellular or molecular pathway involved in aberrant cell proliferation, differentiation or survival.

WO2009/042646 to Curis relates to the compositions, methods, and applications of a novel approach to selective inhibition of several cellular or molecular targets with a single small molecule. More specifically, the present invention relates to multi-functional small molecules capable of inhibiting a different cellular or molecular pathway involved in aberrant cell proliferation, differentiation or survival.

WO2002/32872 (EP1415987) to Eisai relates to nitrogeneous aromatic ring compounds as anti-cancer agents.

The present invention provides novel cyclopropanecarboxamido-substituted aromatic compounds which have improved anti-tumor activity and longer half-life in vivo over known, structurally-related compounds. These novel compounds are kinase inhibitors, preferably Raf inhibitors and VEGFR-2 (KDR/Flk-1) inhibitors. Since Raf is a key component of Ras-Raf-Mek-Erk pathway and VEGFR-2 is critical in angiogenesis, inhibitors of these kinases will be useful in pharmaceutical compositions for human and veterinary use where inhibition of Raf pathway or VEGFR-mediated angiogenesis is indicated, e.g., treatment of tumor or cancerous cell growth mediated by Raf and/or VEGFR-2 kinases. In particular, the compounds or the invention are useful in the treatment of human and animal solid tumors.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide a series of amides of nitrogen-containing heteroaryls with anti-tumor activities.

In one aspect, the present invention novel compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof

wherein:

-   R₁ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, halo, or cyano; -   M is CH or N; -   L is O, NH, or N(CH₃); -   A is CR₅ or N; -   W is CR₆ or N; -   R₂, R₅ and R₆ are independently hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆     haloalkyl, halo, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl or cyano; -   X, Y, and Z are independently CH or N; -   R₃, R₄ are independently hydrogen, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆     haloalkyl, C₂₋₆ alkenyl, hydroxyl-C₁₋₆ alkyl, di-(C₁₋₆     alkylamino)-C₁₋₆ alkyl, amino, C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₃₋₇     cycloalkylamino, di-(C₁₋₆ alkyl)amino, amino-C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₁₋₆     alkoxy-C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₁₋₆ alkoxycarbonyl-C₁₋₆ alkylamino,     di-(C₁₋₆ alkoxy-C₁₋₆ alkyl)amino, aminocarbonyl, C₁₋₆     alkylaminocarbonyl, di-(C₁₋₆ alkyl)aminocarbonyl, C₃₋₇     cycloalkylaminocarbonyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₃₋₇ cycloalkoxy,     hydroxyl-C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆ haloalkoxy, amino-C₁₋₆ alkyl, amino-C₁₋₆     alkoxy, C₁₋₆ alkylsulfonyl, C₂₋₆ alkenylsulfonyl, C₃₋₇     cycloalkylsulfonyl, heterocycle optionally substituted by B, aryl     optionally substituted by B, heteroaryl optionally substituted by B,     C₁₋₆ alkylsulfonylamino, C₂₋₆ alkenylsulfonylamino, C₃₋₇     cycloalkylsulfonylamino, amido, C₁₋₆ alkylcarbonylamino, C₂₋₆     alkenylcarbonylamino, C₃₋₇ cyclooalkylcarbonylamino, C₁₋₆     alkoxycarbonylamino, C₃₋₇ cycloalkoxycarbonylamino, ureido, C₃₋₇     cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ halocycloalkyl, heterocyclyl-oxy, piperidinylamino,     N-methyl-piperidinyl-4-carbonyl, piperazinyl-C₁₋₆ alkyl,     pyrrolylcarbonylamino, N-methyl-piperidinylcarbonylamino or     heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆ alkoxy; or -   R₃ and R₄ can form a 3 to 8-membered ring together with atoms in the     aromatic ring to which they are attached; and -   B is hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, halo, hydroxyl, aryl,     amino, C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₃₋₇ cycloalkylamino, di-(C₁₋₆ alkyl)amino,     cyano, or C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl.

In one embodiment, the NHCONH and L substituents on the central aromatic ring are in a 1,3-configuration.

In another embodiment, the NHCONH and L substituents on the central aromatic ring are in a 1,4-configuration.

In another embodiment, L is O.

In another embodiment, L is NH or N(CH₃).

In another embodiment, X, Y, and Z are all CH.

In another embodiment, one of X, Y, or Z is N and the other two are CH.

In another embodiment, M is CH.

In another embodiment, M is N.

In another embodiment, A is CR₅.

In another embodiment, A is N.

In another embodiment, W is CR₆.

In another embodiment, W is N.

In another embodiment, R₁ is hydrogen or C₁₋₃ alkyl.

In another embodiment, R₂, R₅ and R₆ are independently hydrogen, C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₃ haloalkyl, halo, or cyano.

In another embodiment, R₃ and R₄ are independently hydrogen, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, C₂₋₆ alkenyl, hydroxyl-C₁₋₆ alkyl, di-(C₁₋₆ alkylamino)-C₁₋₆ alkyl, amino, C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₃₋₇ cycloalkylamino, di-(C₁₋₆ alkyl)amino, amino-C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₁₋₆ alkoxy-C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₁₋₆ alkoxycarbonyl-C₁₋₆ alkylamino, di-(C₁₋₆ alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, aminocarbonyl, C₁₋₆ alkylaminocarbonyl, di-(C₁₋₆ alkyl)aminocarbonyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkylaminocarbonyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₃₋₇ cycloalkoxy, hydroxyl-C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆ haloalkoxy, amino-C₁₋₆ alkyl, amino-C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆ alkylsulfonyl, C₂₋₆ alkenylsulfonyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkylsulfonyl, heterocycle optionally substituted by B, aryl optionally substituted by B, heteroaryl optionally substituted by B, C₁₋₆ alkylsulfonylamino, C₂₋₆ alkenylsulfonylamino, C₃₋₇ cicyoalkylsulfonylamino, amido, C₁₋₆ alkylcarbonylamino, C₂₋₆ alkenylcarbonylamino, C₃₋₇ cicyoalkylcarbonylamino, C₁₋₆ alkoxycarbonylamino, C₃₋₇ cycloalkoxycarbonylamino, ureido, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ halocycloalkyl, heterocyclyl-oxy, piperidinylamino, N-methyl-piperidinyl-4-carbonyl, piperazinyl-C₁₋₆ alkyl, pyrrolylcarbonylamino, N-methyl-piperidinylcarbonylamino or heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆ alkoxy.

In another embodiment, one or both of R₃ and R₄ are independently a heterocyclyl-oxy group selected from pyrrolyloxy, piperidinyloxy, furanyloxy and azetidinyloxy.

In another embodiment, one or both of R₃ and R₄ are independently an optionally substituted aryl group selected from phenyl and naphthyl.

In another embodiment, one or both of R₃ and R₄ are independently an optionally substituted hereroaryl group selected from furyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, thienyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, 1,2,3-thiadiazolyl, benzimidazolyl, indolyl, indazolyl, benzoisothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzoisoxazolyl, quniolinyl and isoquinolinyl.

In another embodiment, the hereroaryl is pyridinyl, oxazolyl, or triazolyl.

In another embodiment, one or both of R₃ and R₄ are independently an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group selected from piperidinyl, piperazinyl, homopiperazinyl, azepinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, quinuclidinyl, thiadiazolidinyl, benzothiazolidinyl, benzopynolidinyl, dihydrofuranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, dihydropyranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, thiomorpholinyl, 1-oxo-thiomorpholinyl, 1,1-dioxothiomorpholinyl, dihydroquinolinyl, dihydroisoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl and tetrahydroisoquinolinyl.

In another embodiment, the optionally substituted heterocyclyl is N(R₇)piperazinyl, N(R₇)piperidin-4-yl, pyrrolidinyl, 2-oxopyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl, 2-methylmorpholinyl, 2,6-dimethylmorpholinyl, 2-oxomorpholinyl, 3-(dimethylamino)pyrrolidinyl, 2-oxo-5-methyloxazolidin-3-yl, 3,3-difluoroazetidinyl, fluoropiperidinyl, hydroxylpiperidinyl, or 1,1,-dioxothiomorpholinyl, and R₇ is hydrogen, C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₃ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₁₋₅ acyl or C₃₋₆ cycloalkylacyl.

In another embodiment, B is hydrogen, C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₃ haloalkyl, halo, hydroxyl, aryl, amino, C₁₋₃ alkylamino, C₃₋₅ cycloalkylamino, di-(C₁₋₃ alkyl)amino, cyano, or C₃₋₅ cycloalkyl.

In another embodiment, B is hydrogen, halo, hydroxyl, C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₃ haloalkyl, di-(C₁₋₃ alkyl)amino.

In another embodiment, R₃ and R₄ are independently halo, cyano or C₁₋₃ haloalkyl.

In another embodiment, R₃ and R₄ together form a 3 to 8-membered ring with the atoms in the aromatic ring to which they are attached.

Other embodiments of the compounds include Examples 1-242, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

It is understood that the invention also contemplates all possible combinations of the embodiments listed above.

The compounds of the present invention have improved anti-tumor activity and longer half-life in vivo. For example, compared to the marketed drug sorafenib which is structurally somewhat similar to the compound in example 137 of this invention, the in vitro IC₅₀ of compound 137 at B-Raf is four times more potent than that of sorafenib. In pre-clinical animal studies, sorafenib has a shorter half-life than many of the compounds in this invention; its in vivo anti-tumor activities are also weaker than that of many of the compounds in the present invention. Clinically, sorafenib is given twice daily with 200-400 mg each time. The preferred compounds in the present invention are expected to be given once daily with much lower dose.

A key difference between compounds in the present invention and those known in the art is the use of (substituted)cyclopropanecarboxamido group as the substituent on the aromatic rings. It is this (substituted)cyclopropanecarboxamido group that plays a key and irreplaceable role in providing the desired properties to compounds in the present invention. For example, when the cyclopropanecarboxamido group in example 22 is replaced by a cyclobutanecarboxamido group, the IC₅₀ of the resulting compound is decreased by twenty folds in pERK assay using MDA-MB-231 cell line; whereas the replacement of cyclopropanecarboxamido group in example 7 with either cyclobutanecarboxamido group or propionamido group results in more than twenty fold loss of activity in pERK assay using MDA-MB-231 cell line. These examples further demonstrate the pivotal role that (substituted)cyclopropanecarboxamido group plays in the structures and properties of compounds in the present invention.

A second aspect of the invention relates to the processes for preparing the compounds of the invention and to the synthetic intermediates useful in such process as described below. Compounds of the present invention can be prepared in a number of conventional methods. Some suitable methods for preparing the compounds are described in the examples. Typically, compounds of formula (I) can be prepared with the methods below.

Because of the fixed (properly substituted) cyclopropanecarboxamide structural feature, it would be more efficient when a fragment containing this functional feature is allowed to couple with another fragment through urea bond formation to make the final products. There are many ways of forming ureas, including reaction of amines with isocynates; or reaction of amines with phenyl carbamates or other analogs. For example, Compounds in Formula (I) may be prepared through the following approach:

-   -   1) Amines with optionally substituted phenylisocynates or other         arylisocynates

-   -   Wherein M, L, A, W, X, Y, Z and R₁ to R₄ are as defined above;

2) Amines with optionally substituted phenyl carbamates or other aryl carbamates

-   -   Wherein M, L, A, W, X, Y, Z, and R₁ to R₄ are as defined above.

Based on the same urea formation principle, the products can also be obtained through first forming the urea link and then installing the cyclopropanecarboxamide or substituted cyclopropanecarboxamide moiety, with P1 as the protective group (e.g., Boc-, etc.):

-   -   Wherein M, L, A, W, X, Y, Z, and R₁ to R₄ are as defined above.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating cancer using compounds of formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides use of a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in the preparation of medicament for the treatment of cancer.

Compounds of this invention inhibit KDR and B-Raf kinases at the enzyme levels, they also inhibit Erk phosphorylation and PLC-PRF-5 cell proliferation at the cellular levels. These compounds can be used to treat hyperproliferative disorders such as cancers, especially colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, melanoma, neuroblastoma, cervical cancer, kidney or renal cancer, leukemia and lymphoma. They are especially useful in treating or inhibiting solid tumors, for example, breast cancer, colon cancer, lung and prostate cancer. These compounds can be used as treatment for AML, ALL and GIST.

The compounds of the present invention are preferably formulated as pharmaceutical compositions administered by a variety of routes. Such pharmaceutical compositions and processes for preparing them are well known in the art. See, e.g., REMINGTON: THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF PHARMACY (A. Gennaro, et al., eds, 19^(th) ed. Mack Publishing Co., 1995)

Unless otherwise defined, the following definitions refer to the various terms used above and throughout the disclosure:

The term “halo” refers to fluoro-, chloro-, bromo- and iodo-; with fluoro-, chloro- and bromo-preferred.

The term “C₁₋₆ alkyl”, alone or in combination with other groups, refers to monovalent, linear chain or branched chain alkyl groups containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Exemplary C₁₋₆ alkyl groups include but not limited to methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl and tert-butyl groups. More preferred are C₁₋₄ alkyls.

The term “haloalkyl” refers to alkyl groups in which one or more hydrogen atoms are substituted with the same or different halogens. Exemplary haloalkyl groups include —CH₂Cl, —CH₂CF₃, CH₂CCl₃, pan-fluoroalkyl (e.g., —CF₃), etc.

The term “C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl”, alone or in combination with other groups, refers to, unless otherwise defined, fully saturated hydrocarbon rings of 3 to 7 carbon atoms. For example, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclohexyl.

The term “C₃₋₆ cycloalkylacyl” also called “cycloalkanecarbonyl” refers to acyl groups in which the carbonyl is directly attached to saturated hydrocarbon rings of 3-6 carbon atoms. For example, cyclopropylacyl.

The term “C₁₋₆ alkoxy” refers to, alone or in combination with other groups, R′—O—, where R′ is C₁₋₆ alkyl.

The term “C₂₋₆ alkenyl” refers to, alone or in combination with other groups, linear or branched-chain monovalent groups of 2 to 6 carbon atoms with at least one carbon-carbon double bond. Examples include vinyl, 2-propenyl.

The term “aryl” refers to, alone or in combination with other groups, a monovalent, mono- or bi-cyclic aromatic carbon ring system. The preferred aryls include, but are not limited to, phenyl, naphthyl, methylphenyl and dimethylphenyl.

The term “heterocyclyl” refers to, alone or in combination with other groups, 3 to 8-membered non-aromatic mono- or bi-cyclic heteroatom-containing ring systems where one or two heteroatoms may be selected from N, O, or S(O)_(n) (n is an integral of 0 to 2). Examples of “heterocyclyl” include, but are not limited to, optionally substituted piperidinyl, piperazinyl, homopiperazinyl, azepinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, quinuclidinyl, thiadiazolidinyl, benzothiazolidinyl, benzopyrrolidinyl, dihydrofuranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, dihydropyranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, thiomorpholinyl, 1-oxo-thiomorpholinyl, 1,1-dioxothiomorpholinyl, dihydroquinolinyl, dihydroisoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, etc.

The term “heteroaryl” refers to five- to six-membered monocyclic or nine to ten-membered bicyclic aromatic rings containing one, two or three heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and/or sulfur atoms. Examples include, but are not limited to, furyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, thienyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, 1,2,3-thiadiazolyl, benzimidazolyl, indolyl, indazolyl, benzoisothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzoisoxazolyl, quniolinyl and isoquinolinyl. The preferred heteroaryls are pyridinyl, oxazolyl and triazolyl.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to those salts which are, within the scope of sound medical judgement, suitable for use in contact of the tissues of human and lower animals without undue toxicity, irritation, allergic reactions and the like. The salts are organic or inorganic salts of a compound of the invention which maintain the biological activities of it as drawn in Formula (I). The salts may be prepared from suitable, non-toxic organic or inorganic acids reacting with free base, or organic and inorganic bases reacting with acid group in the compounds of invention. Examples of acid addition salts include those salts derived from inorganic acids and organic acids. Examples of inorganic acid include, but are not limited to, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, sulfuric acid, animosulfonic acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid; examples of organic acids include, but are not limited to, para-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, methanesulfonic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, maleic acid, lactic acid, fumaric acid, etc. Examples of base addition salts include those derived from ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, quaternary ammonium hydroxide such as tetramethylammonium hydroxide. Conversion of an acid or base compound into a salt is well known in the art to improve its physicochemical properties, chemical stability, moisture absorption property, liquidity and solubility.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable” carrier, excipient refers to those carriers and excipients which are compatible to the administration of the compounds to the subjects, and are non-toxic.

The “therapeutically effective amount” of a compound of this invention means an amount of the compound that effectively prevents or delays the progression of the disease, or attenuates, ameliorates some of the symptoms of the disease or extends the life of patients. Determination of therapeutically effective amount depends on a variety of factors well known in medical arts.

The therapeutically effective amount or dose may vary in a wide range, and can be determined by known arts in this field. The specific therapeutically effective dose level for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of specific compound being employed, route of administration, duration of treatment, and the age, body weight, general health, sex and diet of the patient. In general, the total daily dose of the compound for a 70 Kg adult, when administered orally or parenterally, may range from 10 mg to 10,000 mg, preferably from about 200 mg to 1,000 mg, albeit some evidences show higher dose level may be acceptable. Total daily dose of the compounds of this invention may be administered in a single dose or multiple doses, for parenteral administration, the total daily dose may be delivered through continuous infusion.

All compound names listed herein are generated with Symyx Draw 3.3 program from Accelrys. Abbreviations used in this application are listed below: DCM: dichloromethane; PE: petroleum ether; THF: tetrahydrofuran; DMF: N,N,-dimethylformamide; DIEA: diisopropylethylamine; DMSO: dimethylsulfoxide; TEA: triethylamine; TFA: trifluoroacetic acid; MW: microwave; NMP: N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone; mCPBA: meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid; BAST: bis-(2-methoxyethyl)aminosulfur trifluoride; EDCI: 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride; TLC: thin-layer chromatography; EtOAc: ethyl acetate; MeOH: methanol; EtOH: ethanol; MS data is obtained with ESI-MS (electrospray ionization mass spectrometry) method through a LC/MS system.

INTERMEDIATES Preparation of Intermediate A

Step 1: Synthesis of N-(6-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide

Add slowly cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride (10.6 g, 102.3 mmol) to a mixture of 4-amino-6-chloro-pyrimidine (12 g, 91 mmol), pyridine (18 g, 227.5 mmol) in THF (150 mL) at 0° C. Stir the reaction at 60° C. for 4 hrs.

TLC (DCM:MeOH=20:1) shows that the reaction is complete. Cool the reaction to 0° C., add water (100 mL), extract with EtOAc (100 mL×2). Combine the organic layers, wash with diluted aqueous HCl (1M, 150 mL) and brine sequentially, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Evaporation under reduced pressure affords crude product (16 g, crude yield 88.8%). MS: (M+1): 198.1. Use crude product directly in next step without further purification.

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[6-(4-amino-3-methyl-phenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Mix the cyclopropanecarboxamide derivative obtained in Step 1 (400 mg, 2.03 mmol), 4-amino-3-methyl-phenol (272 mg, 2.23 mmol) and Cs₂CO₃ (1.3 g, 4.06 mmol) in DMF (10 mL). Stir the reaction at 150° C. under microwave conditions for 30 min.

TLC (EtOAc:PE=2:1) shows the reaction is complete. Cool the reaction to room temperature; add water (15 mL). Extract with EtOAc (15 mL×2). Wash the combined organic layers with brine, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Evaporation under reduced pressure affords crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:petroleum ether=1:1) provides the title compound as a light-yellow solid (450 mg, 78.1%). MS: (M+1): 285.2.

Intermediates A2-A5 can be synthesized with similar method (Table A1).

TABLE A1 Intermediates A1-A5 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ A1

285.2 A2

305.1 A3

289.2 A4

305.1 A5

303.2

Step 1: Synthesis of N-(6-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide (see Step 1 for A1)

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[6-(3-bromo-5-methyl-phenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Add N-(6-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide (1 g, 5.07 mmol), 3-bromo-5-methyl-phenol (950 mg, 5.07 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (2.14 g, 6.60 mmol) and DMF (10 mL) to a microwave reaction vessel (25 mL). Heat the reaction under microwave conditions at 150° C. for 1 hr.

Cool to room temperature, add water (50 mL), extract with EtOAc (100 mL×2), combine organic layers, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentration and purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) afford the title compound (1.2 g, 67.9%). MS: (M+1): 348.1.

Step 3: Synthesis of N-[6-[3-(benzhydrylideneamino)-5-methyl-phenoxy]pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Mix the cyclopropanecarboxamide derivative obtained in Step 2 (400 mg, 1.15 mmol), benzophenone imine (624 mg, 3.45 mmol), t-BuOK (257 mg, 2.3 mmol) and 1,4-dioxane in a 250 mL flask, add Xantphos (133 mg, 0.23 mmol), Pd(OAc)₂ (26 mg, 0.115 mmol). Stir the reaction under N₂ at 120° C. for 15 hrs.

TLC shows reaction is complete. Remove the solid through suction filtration. Concentration and purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) afford the title compound (450 mg, 87.4%). MS: (M+1): 449.3.

Step 4: Synthesis of N-[6-(3-amino-5-methyl-phenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Add 1M HCl aqueous solution (10 mL) to a solution of the imine obtained in Step 3 (450 mg, 1.0 mmol) in THF (10 mL), stir the reaction at room temperature for 1 hr. Basicify with saturated NaHCO₃ solution, extract with EtOAc (30 mL×2). Combine the organic layers, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentration and purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) afford the title compound (230 mg, 80.8%). MS: (M+1): 285.2.

Intermediates A7-A8 can be synthesized with similar method (Table A2)

TABLE A2 Intermediates A6-A8 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ A6

285.2 A7

289.2 A8

296.2

Step 1: Synthesis of 4-chloro-6-(4-nitrophenoxyl)pyrimidine

Dissolve NaOH (2.8 g, 71.9 mmol) in water (90 mL) at 0° C. Add para-nitrophenol (10 g, 71.9 mmol), and then a solution of 4,6-dichloropyrimidine (10.7 g, 71.9 mmol) in acetone (90 mL). Stir the reaction at 70° C. for 24 hrs. Cool the reaction, collect the solid, rinse the solid with the mixture of acetone-water (1:1, 20 mL), and dry the solid to afford the title compound (18 g, 77.8%). MS: (M+Na): 274.0.

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[6-(4-nitrophenoxyl)pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Mix 4-chloro-6-(4-nitrophenoxyl)pyrimidine (10.6 g, 39.68 mmol), cyclopropanecarboxamide (8.7 g, 99.2 mmol) and 1,4-dioxane (150 mL). Then under N₂, add tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium [Pd₂(dba)₃, 1.8 g, 1.98 mmol], (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 2.5 g, 3.97 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (32 g, 99.5 mmol), and stir at 100° C. for 12 hrs. Cool to room temperature, filter, concentration and purification by chromatography (silica gel, DCM:EtOAc=1:5) afford the title compound (5.5 g, 43.6%). MS: (M+1): 301.

Step 3: Synthesis of N-[6-(4-aminophenoxyl)pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve N-[6-(4-nitrophenoxyl)pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide (2.2 g, 7.33 mmol) in DCM (50 mL), add Pd/C (10%, 340 mg), flush with H₂, and stir at room temperature under H₂ for 2 hrs. After the reaction is complete, flush with N₂, and then filter, concentrate the filtrate, purify the crude product by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) to provide the title compound (1.8 g, 91%). MS: (M+1): 271.

Intermediates A10-A16 can be synthesized by similar method (Table A3).

TABLE A3 Intermediates A9-A16 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ A9 

271   A10

289.2 A11

289.2 A12

284.2 A13

286   A14

271.1 A15

289   A16

285.2

Step 1: Synthesis of 6-chloro-N-(3-fluoro-4-nitro-phenyl)pyrimidin-4-amine

Mix 4,6-dichloroppimidine (3 g, 20.1 mmol), 3-fluoro-4-nitroaniline (2.4 g, 15.5 mmol), isopropanol (20 mL) and concentrated HCl (3 mL) in a 100 mL flask, heat at 120° C. under N₂ for 4 hrs.

TLC (PE:EtOAc=3:1) shows the reaction is complete. Cool to room temperature, add water (20 mL), carefully adjust pH=8 with saturated NaHCO₃ solution. Extract with EtOAc (100 mL×2), combine the organic layers; wash with brine (100 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Filtration and concentration afford crude product. Add the mixture of EtOAc and PE (1:1, 100 mL), stir and filter to give the title compound (1.38 g, 67%). MS: (M+1): 269.1.

Step 2: Synthesis of 6-chloro-N-(3-fluoro-4-nitro-phenyl)-N-methyl-pyrimidin-4-amine

Add the compound obtained in Step 1 (700 mg, 2.6 mmol), NaH (60%, 208 mg, 5.2 mmol) to DMF (20 mL), stir for 1 hr. Cool to 0° C., add slowly iodomethane (554 mg, 3.9 mmol). Warm the reaction to 25° C. and stir for 2 hrs. Cool the reaction to 0° C., add water (20 mL), extract with EtOAc (15 mL×2), wash the combined organic layers with brine, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Filter and concentrate under reduced pressure to afford crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (350 mg, 47.6%). MS: (M+1): 283.1.

Step 3: Synthesis of N-[6-(3-fluoro-N-methyl-4-nitro-anilino)pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Mix the compound obtained in Step 2 (350 mg, 1.24 mmol), cyclopropanecarboxamide (116 mg, 1.36 mmol), (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 77 mg, 0.124 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (1.01 g, 3.1 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (30 mL), then under N₂ atmosphere, add tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium [Pd₂(dba)₃, 113 mg, 0.124 mmol]. Stir the reaction at 126° C. under N₂ for 16 hrs. Cool the reaction mixture, filter, and concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (178 mg, 43.3%). MS: (M+1): 332.2.

Step 4: Synthesis of N-[6-(4-amino-3-fluoro-N-methyl-anilino)pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve the compound obtained in Step 3 (180 mg, 0.543 mmol) in ethanol (20 mL), add iron powder (150 mg, 2.72 mmol) and saturated NH₄Cl solution (10 mL). Stir the reaction at 75° C. for 2 hrs. TLC (DCM:MeOH=20:1) shows the reaction is complete. Cool the reaction to 0° C., add water (20 mL), extract with EtOAc (30 mL×2), combine the organic layers, wash with brine (30 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filter and concentrate to give the crude product (150 mg). Use it directly without further purification. MS: (M+1): 302.2.

Step 1: Synthesis of 6-(6-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)oxypyridin-3-amine

Add 5-aminopyridin-2-ol (500 mg, 4.545 mmol), t-BuOK (555 mg, 4.545 mmol) in DMF (20 mL), stir at 25° C. for 30 min. Cool to 0° C., add slowly 4,6-dichloropyrimidine (614 mg, 4.13 mmol). Stir the reaction under N₂ for 1 hr. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Cool the mixture to 0° C., add water (20 mL), extract with EtOAc (20 mL×2). Combine the organic layers; wash with brine, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Filter and concentrate under reduced pressure to give crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (650 mg, 70.8%). MS: (M+1): 223.1.

Step 2: Synthesis of tert-butyl N-[6-(6-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)oxy-3-pyridyl]carbamate

Add the compound obtained in Step 1 (650 mg, 2.93 mmol) and Boc₂O (766 mg, 3.51 mmol) in t-BuOH (20 mL) and heat at 50° C. for 16 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (610 mg, 64.6%). MS: (M+1): 323.1.

Step 3: Synthesis of tert-butyl N-[6-[6-(cyclopropanecarbonylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]oxy-3-pyridyl]carbamate

Mix the compound obtained in Step 2 (610 mg, 1.9 mmol), cyclopropanecarboxamide (193 mg, 2.27 mmol), (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 118 mg, 0.19 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (1.238 g, 3.8 mmol) and tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium [Pd₂(dba)₃, 122 mg, 0.133 mmol] in 1,4-dioxane (30 mL). Stir the reaction at 120° C. under N₂ for 16 hrs. Cool the reaction, filter, concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (500 mg, 70.8%). MS: (M+1): 372.2.

Step 4: Synthesis of N-[6-[(5-amino-2-pyridyl)oxy]pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Add the compound obtained in Step 3 (500 mg, 1.9 mmol) to DCM (30 mL), cool to 0° C., add slowly trifluoroacetic acid (10 mL), then stir the reaction at 25° C. for 4 hrs. TLC (DCM:MeOH=20:1) shows the reaction is complete. Cool the reaction to 0° C., adjust to pH=8-9 with saturated NaHCO₃ solution. Extract with DCM (30 mL×2), combine the organic layers; wash with brine (30 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Filter and concentrate under reduced pressure to give crude product. Rinse the solid with ether, dry under reduced pressure to give the product (180 mg, 49.3%). MS: (M+1): 272.2.

Intermediate A19 can be synthesized with similar method (Table A4).

TABLE A4 Intermediates A17-A19 MS Number Starting material Intermediate [M + 1]⁺ A17

302.2 A18

272.2 A19

286.2

Synthesis of phenyl N-[4-[6-(cyclopropanecarbonylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]oxy-2-methyl-phenyl]carbamate

Add N-[6-(4-amino-3-methyl-phenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide (Intermediate A1, 500 mg, 1.76 mmol), pyridine (280 mg, 3.52 mmol) to a mixed solvent of THF (5 mL) and DCM (5 mL). Cool to 0° C.; add slowly phenyl chloroformate (330 mg, 2.11 mmol). Stir the reaction at room temperature for 2 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Dilute with water, extract with DCM. Combine the organic layers, wash with 1M diluted HCl, brine sequentially, and dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentration under reduced pressure affords the title compound (700 mg, 98.3%). MS: (M+1) 273.

TABLE A5 Intermediate A20 MS Number Starting material Intermediate [M + 1]⁺ A20

273

Preparation of Intermediate B

Step 1: Synthesis of 4-[(3-methyl-5-nitro-2-pyridyl)oxy]pyridin-2-amine

Mix 2-aminopyridin-4-ol (3.3 g, 30 mmol), 2-chloro-3-methyl-5-nitropyridine (5.17 g, 30 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (50 mL), add K₂CO₃ (8.28 g, 60 mmol). Stir the reaction at 90° C. overnight. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (3.3 g, 45%). MS: (M+1): 247.1.

Step 2: Synthesis of tert-butyl N-[4-[(3-methyl-5-nitro-2-pyridyl)oxy]-2-pyridyl]carbamate

Add 4-[(3-methyl-5-nitro-2-pyridyl)oxy]pyridin-2-amine (400 mg, 1.62 mmol), Boc₂O (388 mg, 1.78 mmol) to t-BuOH (10 mL). Stir the reaction at 50° C. for 12 hrs. Concentrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) affords the title compound (400 mg, 71%). MS: (M+1): 347.

Step 3: Synthesis of tert-butyl N-(cyclopropanecarbonyl)-N-[4-[(3-methyl-5-nitro-2-pyridyl)oxy]-2-pyridyl]carbamate

Add N-[4-[(3-methyl-5-nitro-2-pyridyl)oxy]-2-pyridyl]carbamate (300 mg, 0.87 mmol), Et₃N (350 mg, 3.47 mmol) to anhydrous DCM (5 mL), cool to 0° C., add cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride (360 mg, 3.47 mmol) dropwise. Stir at room temperature for 2 hrs. Concentrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) affords the title compound (350 mg, 97%). MS: (M+1): 415.

Step 4: Synthesis of N-[4-[(3-methyl-5-nitro-2-pyridyl)oxy]-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Add tert-butyl N-(cyclopropanecarbonyl)-N-[4-[(3-methyl-5-nitro-2-pyridyl)oxy]-2-pyridyl]carbamate (350 mg, 0.84 mmol) in DCM (10 mL), add trifluoroacetic acid (2 mL). Stir the reaction at room temperature for 2 hrs. Concentrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) affords the title compound (260 mg, 98%). MS: (M+1): 315.

Step 5: Synthesis of N-[4-[(5-amino-3-methyl-2-pyridyl)oxy]-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve N-[4-[(3-methyl-5-nitro-2-pyridyl)oxy]-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide (269 mg, 0.83 mmol) in MeOH (5 mL) and DCM (5 mL). Add Pd/C (10%, 104 mg), flush with H₂. Stir the reaction under H₂ at room temperature for 2 hrs. After the reaction, flush with N₂, filter the reaction mixture; concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (70 mg, 30%). MS: (M+1): 285.

Intermediates B2-B9 can be synthesized using similar method (Table B1).

TABLE B1 Intermediates B1-B9 MS Number Starting material Intermediate [M + 1]⁺ B1 

285.2 B2 

285.2 B3 

NA B4 

NA B5 

271.1 B6 

270.2 B7 

288   B8 

284.2 B9 

288  

Step 1: Synthesis of 4-[(5-bromo-3-fluoro-2-pyridyl)oxy]pyridin-2-amine

Mix 2-aminopyridin-4-ol (1.13 g, 10.3 mmol), 5-bromo-2,3-difluoro-pyridine (2 g, 10.3 mmol) in DMF (10 mL). Stir the mixture at 120° C. for 3 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Filter, add water (50 mL) to the filtrate, extract with EtOAc (50 mL×3). Combine the organic layers, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:4) affords the title compound (1.35 g, 46.3%). MS: (M+1): 284.

Step 2: Synthesis of tert-butyl N-[4-[(5-bromo-3-fluoro-2-pyridyl)oxy]-2-pyridyl]carbamate

Add the compound obtained in Step 1 (1.35 g, 4.7 mmol) and Boc₂O (1.13 g, 5.2 mmol) in t-BuOH (10 mL). Stir the reaction at 75° C. for 2 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:1) shows reaction is complete. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (1.8 g) which is used without further purification.

Step 3: Synthesis of tert-butyl N-[4-[(5-bromo-3-fluoro-2-pyridyl)oxy]-2-pyridyl]-Nyclopropanecarbonyl)carbamate

Add the compound obtained in Step 2 (1.8 g, 4.7 mmol), Et₃N (0.95 g, 9.4 mmol) to DCM (10 mL), then add cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride (0.95 g, 7.0 mmol). Stir the reaction at room temperature for 2.5 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Add water (10 mL) to quench the reaction. Extract with DCM (10 mL×3), combine the organic layers, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (2.14 g) which is used without further purification.

Step 4: Synthesis of N-[4-1(5-bromo-3-fluoro-2-pyridyl)oxyl-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve the crude product obtained in Step 3 (2.14 g, 4.7 mmol) in HCl solution in 1,4-dioxane (5 M, 10 mL). Stir the reaction at room temperature for 17 hrs. LC/MS shows reaction is complete. Remove the solvent under reduced pressure, suspend the solid in DCM and add carefully saturated NaHCO₃ solution. Separate the organic layer. Extract the aqueous layer with DCM. Combine the organic layers, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) affords the title compound (0.9 g, 54% from step 2). MS: (M+1): 352.

Step 5: Synthesis of N-[4-[[5-(benzhydrylideneamino)-3-fluoro-2-pyridyl]oxy]-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Add the compound obtained in Step 4 (0.9 g, 2.5 mmol), benzophenone imine (0.59 g, 3.25 mmol), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium [Pd₂(dba)₃, 200 mg, 0.25 mmol], (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 250 mg, 0.375 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (1.6 g, 5.0 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (10 mL). Stir the mixture under N₂ at 100° C. for 16 hrs. Cool to room temperature, filter, and concentrate the filtrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) affords the title compound (0.8 g, 69%). MS: (M+1): 453.

Step 6: Synthesis of N-[4-[(5-amino-3-fluoro-2-pyridyl)oxy]-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve the compound obtained in Step 5 (0.8 g, 1.77 mmol) in THF (10 mL), add water (1 mL) and 1N aqueous HCl (3 mL). Stir the reaction at room temperature for 2 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Extract with EtOAc. Wash the organic layer with saturated NaHCO₃ solution and brine respectively. Collect the organic layer, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=5:1) affords the title compound (0.4 g, 78%).

Step 1: Synthesis of N-(4-hydroxy-2-pyridyl)cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve 2-amino-pyridin-4-ol (5 g, 45.4 mmol) in DCM (30 mL), add Et₃N (13.8 g, 136 mmol) and then cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride (14.2 g, 136 mmol) dropwise while keeping the temperature below 10° C. After addition, stir the reaction at room temperature for 16 hrs. Remove the solvent under reduced pressure, dissolve the residue in THF (40 mL), adjust pH=12 with 1N NaOH solution. Stir the mixture for 3 hrs. Concentrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:MeOH=9:1) affords the title compound (2.6 g, 32%).

Step 2: Synthesis of 5-(benzhydrylideneamino)-2-fluoro-benzonitrile

Add 5-bromo-2-fluoro-benzonitrile (0.5 g, 2.5 mmol), benzophenone imine (0.543 g, 3 mmol), (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 60 mg, 0.1 mmol), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium [Pd₂(dba)₃, 50 mg, 0.05 mmol], and Cs₂CO₃ (1.6 g, 4.9 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (20 mL). Stir the reaction under N₂ at 110° C. for 16 hrs. Cool to room temperature, filter the solid, and concentrate the filtrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) affords the title compound (0.78 g, 99%). MS: (M+1): 301.

Step 3: Synthesis of N-[4-(4-amino-2-cyano-phenoxy)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Mix N-(4-hydroxy-2-pyridyl)cyclopropanecarboxamide (179 mg, 1 mmol), 5-(benzhydrylideneamino)-2-fluoro-benzonitrile (0.3 g, 1 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (0.28 g, 2 mmol) and DMF (10 mL) in a microwave reaction vessel. Use microwave to heat the reaction at 150° C. for 30 min. TLC (EtOAc:PE=2:1) shows the reaction is complete. Cool the reaction to room temperature. Add water (15 mL), extract with EtOAc (15 mL×2). Combine the organic layers; wash with brine, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude imine intermediate. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) provides the imine intermediate (255 mg, 55.4%). MS: (M+1): 459.3.

Dissolve this imine intermediate in THF (10 mL), add 1M aqueous HCl (10 mL), stir for 1 hr. Adjust pH=7, extract with EtOAc (50 mL×3), combine the organic layers, wash with brine, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=3:1) affords the title compound (124 mg, 78%). MS: (M+1): 295.2.

Step 1: Synthesis of 2-chloro-N-(2-fluoro-4-nitro-phenyl)pyridin-4-amine

Add 2-chloropyridin-4-amine (500 mg, 3.9 mmol), 1,2-difluoro-4-nitrobenzene (620 mg, 3.9 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (3.2 g, 9.8 mmol) to DMF (15 mL). Stir the reaction at 110° C. for 16 hrs. Cool to room temperature, add water (100 mL), extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3). Combine the organic layers and wash with brine, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:4) affords the title compound (280 mg, 27%). MS: (M+1): 268.1.

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[4-(2-fluoro-4-nitro-anilino)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Mix 2-chloro-N-(2-fluoro-4-nitro-phenyl)pyridin-4-amine (280 mg, 1.05 mmol), cyclopropanecarboxamide (267 mg, 3.15 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (863 mg, 2.63 mmol), (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 65 mg, 1.05 mmol), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium [Pd₂(dba)₃, 48 mg, 0.053 mmol] and 1,4-dioxane (6 mL) in a 50 mL round bottom flask, heat at 100° C. under N₂ for 16 hrs. Cool the reaction to 25° C., add water (40 mL), extract with EtOAc (10 mL×2). Combine the organic layers; wash with brine (15 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=7:3) affords the target compound (180 mg, 54%). MS: (M+1): 317.1.

Step 3: Synthesis of N-[4-(4-amino-2-fluoro-anilino)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve the compound obtained in Step 2 (180 mg, 0.57 mmol) in methanol (6 mL), add wet Pd/C (10%, 70 mg), flush with H₂, and stir the reaction at room temperature under H₂ atmosphere for 16 hrs. After the reaction, remove H₂, filter the reaction mixture and concentrate the filtrate to get the crude product (100 mg). Use the crude product directly without further purification. MS: (M+1): 287.2.

Step 1: Synthesis of 2-chloro-N-(3-fluoro-4-nitro-phenyl)-N-methyl-pyridin-4-amine

Add 2-chloro-N-(3-fluoro-4-nitro-phenyl)pyridin-4-amine (300 mg, 1.12 mmol), methyl iodide (174 mg, 1.23 mmol) and K₂CO₃ (201 mg, 1.45 mmol) in DMF (6 mL). Stir the reaction at 70° C. for 3 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:1) shows the reaction is complete, cool the reaction to 0° C., add water, extract with EtOAc. Combine the organic layers. Wash with brine, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (190 mg, 45%). MS: (M+1): 282.2.

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[4-(3-fluoro-4-nitro-anilino)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Add 2-chloro-N-(3-fluoro-4-nitro-phenyl)-N-methyl-pyridin-4-amine (190 mg, 0.68 mmol), cyclopropanecarboxamide (85 mg, 2.03 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (440 mg, 1.35 mmol), (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 43 mg, 0.05 mmol) and tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium [Pd₂(dba)₃, 42 mg, 0.07 mmol] in 1,4-dioxane (6 mL) under N₂. Heat the reaction at 125° C. for 16 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=2:1) shows the reaction is complete. Cool to room temperature, filter, and concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=2:1) affords the target compound (160 mg, 71.7%). MS: (M+1): 331.

Step 3: Synthesis of N-[4-(4-amino-3-fluoro-anilino)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve the compound obtained in Step 2 (160 mg, 0.48 mmol) in methanol (15 mL) and dichloromethane (15 mL). Add Pd/C (10%, 32 mg), flush with H₂. Stir the reaction at room temperature for 3.5 hrs under H₂. LC/MS shows the reaction is complete. Remove the H₂, filter the reaction mixture, and concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (120 mg). MS: (M+1): 301.

Step 1: Synthesis of N-[4-(2-fluoro-4-nitro-phenoxy)-2-pyridyl]-1-methyl-cyclopropanecarboxamide

Add oxalyl chloride (760 mg, 60 mmol) slowly to a solution of 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (500 mg, 5.0 mmol) in DCM (10 mL) at 0° C., add a few drops of DMF. Stir the reaction at 0° C. for 30 min, and then stir at room temperature for hrs. Remove the volatiles under reduced pressure to give the crude 1-methylcyclopropanecarbonyl chloride.

Add the solution of the above 1-methylcyclopropanecarbonyl chloride in DCM slowly to a solution of 4-(2-fluoro-4-nitro-phenoxy)pyridin-2-amine (500 mg, 2.0 mmol) and Et₃N (505 mg, 5.0 mmol) in DCM (15 mL) at 0° C. Stir the reaction at room temperature for 15 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Concentrate the mixture to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the target compound (160 mg, 24%). MS: (M+1): 332.2.

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[4-(4-amino-2-fluoro-phenoxy)-2-pyridyl]-1-methyl-cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve N-[4-(2-fluoro-4-nitro-phenoxy)-2-pyridyl]-1-methyl-cyclopropanecarboxamide (160 mg, 0.48 mmol) in DCM (30 mL), add Pd/C (10%, 55 mg), flush with H₂. Stir the reaction at room temperature under H₂ atmosphere for 2 hrs. Filter the reaction mixture; concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (100 mg) which is used without further purification. MS: (M+1): 302.2.

Step 1: Synthesis of tert-butyl N-(4-bromo-2-pyridyl)carbamate

Dissolve 2-amino-4-bromopyridine (1.0 g, 5.8 mmol), di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (Boc₂O, 1.4 g, 6.4 mmol) in t-BuOH (15 mL), heat the mixture at 50° C. overnight. Cool to room temperature, pour to water (50 mL), extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3). Combine the organic layers, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄; concentrate under reduced pressure to afford the crude product (1.24 g) which is used without further purification. MS: (M+1): 219.0.

Step 2: Synthesis of tert-butyl N-(4-bromo-2-pyridyl)-N-(cyclopropanecarbonyl)carbamate

Add cyclopropanecarbonyl chloride (1.42 g, 13.68 mmol) slowly to a solution of tert-butyl N-(4-bromo-2-pyridyl)carbamate (1.24 g, 4.6 mmol), Et₃N (1.38 g, 13.68 mmol) in DCM (15 mL) at 0° C. After addition, stir the reaction at room temperature for 2 hrs. Pour the reaction mixture to water (50 mL), extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3), combine the organic layers and wash with brine (100 mL). Dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄; concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (1.55 g) which is used without further purification. MS: (M+1): 241.0

Step 3: Synthesis of N-(4-bromo-2-pyridyl)cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve tert-butyl N-(4-bromo-2-pyridyl)-N-(cyclopropanecarbonyl)carbamate (900 mg, 2.8 mmol) in DCM (8 mL), add slowly trifluoroacetic acid (4 mL). Stir the reaction at room temperature for 3 hrs. Pour the reaction mixture to water (50 mL), adjust to pH=7 with saturated NaHCO₃ solution. Extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3), combine the organic layers; wash with brine (100 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (670 mg) which is used without further purification. MS: (M+1): 243.1.

Step 4: Synthesis of N-[4-(3-fluoro-4-nitro-anilino)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Under N₂, mix N-(4-bromo-2-pyridyl)cyclopropanecarboxamide (460 mg, 1.9 mmol), 3-fluoro-4-nitroaniline (359 mg, 2.3 mmol), palladium(II) acetate [Pd(OAc)₂, 43.2 mg, 0.19 mmol], 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl (S-Phos, 158 mg, 0.38 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (1.2 g, 3.8 mmol) and anhydrous toluene (10 mL). Stir the mixture at 120° C. under N₂ for 16 hrs. Cool to room temperature, pour the reaction mixture to water (50 mL), extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3), combine the organic layers and dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=54:46) affords the target compound (160 mg, 22%). MS: (M+1): 317.2.

Step 5: Synthesis of N-[4-(4-amino-3-fluoro-anilino)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve N-[4-(3-fluoro-4-nitro-anilino)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide (160 mg, 0.51 mmol) in methanol (10 mL), add wet Pd/C (10%, 60 mg), flush with H₂ and then stir the reaction under H₂ atmosphere at room temperature for 6 hrs. Remove H₂, filter the mixture. Concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (140 mg) which is used directly without further purification. MS: (M+1): 287.2.

Step 1: Synthesis of tert-butyl N-[4-[(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)oxy]-2-fluoro-phenyl]carbamate

Dissolve tert-butyl N-(2-fluoro-4-hydroxy-phenyl)carbamate (10.47 g, 46.1 mmol) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP, 100 mL), add t-BuOK (5.67 g, 50.5 mmol) and stir at 0° C. for 30 min. Add 2-chloro-4-fluoropyridine (5.5 g, 41.9 mmol), then stir at 70° C. under N₂ for 12 hrs. Quench the reaction with water, extract with EtOAc (300 mL×3), combine the organic layers, wash with brine (300 mL×2), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:4) affords the title compound (11.23 g, 79.5%). MS: (M+1): 339.

Step 2: Synthesis of tert-butyl N-[4-[[2-(cyclopropanecarbonylamino)-4-pyridyl]oxy]-2-fluoro-phenyl]carbamate

Dissolve tert-butyl N-[4-[(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)oxy]-2-fluoro-phenyl]carbamate (13 g, 14.7 mmol), cyclopropanecarboxamide (8.1 g, 36.7 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (240 mL). Then add tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) [Pd₂(dba)₃, 1.75 g, 0.73 mmol), (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 2.38 g, 1.47 mmol) and Cs₂CO₃ (24.8 g, 29.4 mmol) under N₂. Stir the reaction at 100° C. for 12 hrs. Cool to room temperature, filter, and concentrate the filtrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, DCM:EtOAc-1:5) affords the title compound (12.14 g, 83.2%). MS: (M+1): 388.

Step 3: Synthesis of N-[4-(4-amino-3-fluoro-phenoxy)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve tert-butyl N-[4-[[2-(cyclopropanecarbonylamino)-4-pyridyl]oxy]-2-fluoro-phenyl]carbamate (12.14 g, 31.28 mmol) in DCM (280 mL), add trifluoroacetic acid (35 mL). Stir the reaction at room temperature for 5 hrs. Remove the volatiles under reduced pressure. Add EtOAc (300 mL), washed with saturated NaHCO₃ solution (300 mL×2), and brine (300 mL×2). Dry the organic layer with anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (7 g, 78.4%). MS: (M+1): 288.

Step 1: Synthesis of 2-chloro-4-(4-methyl-3-nitro-phenoxy)pyridine

Add 4-methyl-3-nitrophenol (6.95 g, 45.46 mmol) and t-BuOK (5.94 g, 53.03 mmol) to N-methylpyrrolidin-2-one (100 mL), stir for 30 min, then add 2-chloro-4-fluoro-pyridine (5 g, 37.88 mmol) and stir the reaction at 70° C. overnight. TLC (PE:EtOAc=3:1) shows the reaction is complete. Add water (250 mL) to the reaction mixture, extract with EtOAc (100 mL×4), combine the organic layers, wash with water, brine respectively and dry over Na₂SO₄. Concentrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:4) affords the title compound (5.8 g, 58%). MS: (M+1): 265.1.

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[4-(4-methyl-3-nitro-phenoxy)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Add the compound obtained in Step 1 (5.0 g, 18.87 mmol), cyclopropanecarboxamide (4.81 g, 56.61 mmol) to 1,4-dioxane (100 mL). Then under N₂, add tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium [Pd₂(dba)₃, 0.86 g, 0.94 mmol], (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 1.17 g, 1.89 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (12.27 g, 37.74 mmol). Stir the reaction under N₂ at 100° C. overnight. TLC (PE:EtOAc=2:1) shows the reaction is complete. Cool the reaction to room temperature, filter, and concentrate the filtrate to get the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:4) affords the title compound (3.0 g, 51%). MS: (M+1): 314.2.

Step 3: Synthesis of N-[4-(3-amino-4-methyl-phenoxy)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve the above nitro compound (3.0 g, 9.6 mmol) in methanol (150 mL), add Pd/C (10%, 0.9 g) to the solution, flush with H₂ and stir under H₂ atmosphere at room temperature overnight. TLC (PE:EtOAc=2:1) shows reaction is complete. Filter and concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to give a crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:2) affords the title compound (1.90 g, 70%). MS: (M+1): 284.2.

Intermediate B18 can be synthesized with similar method (Table B2).

TABLE B2 Intermediate B10-B18 MS Number Starting material Intermediate [M + 1]⁺ B10

289.1 B11

295.2 B12

287.2 B13

301   B14

302.2 B15

287.2 B16

288   B17

284.2 B18

284.2

Step 1: Synthesis of phenyl N-[4-[[2-(cyclopropanecarbonylamino)-4-pyridyl]oxy]-2-fluoro-phenyl]carbamate

Mix N-[4-(4-amino-3-fluoro-phenoxy)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide (500 mg, 1.7 mmol), DCM (8 mL) and pyridine (345 mg) and cool to 0-5° C. Add a solution of phenyl chloroformate (350 mg, 2.2 mmol) in DCM (1 mL). Stir the reaction at room temperature for 1.5 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1;1) shows the reaction is complete. Quench the reaction with water (5 mL). Wash the organic layer with 1N HCl solution, saturated NaHCO₃ solution and brine respectively. Dry the organic layer with anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Filter and concentrate to give the crude product (710 mg) which is used without further purification. MS: (M+1): 408.

Intermediates B20-21 can be synthesized with similar method (Table B3).

TABLE B3 Intermediates B19-B21 MS Number Starting material Intermediate [M + 1]⁺ B19

408 B20

408 B21

NA

Preparation of Intermediate C

Step 1: Synthesis of tert-butyl 4-(4-nitro-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5,6-dihydropyridine-1(2H)-carboxylate

Add 2-bromo-5-nitrobenzotrifluoride (250 mg, 0.926 mmol) to dioxane (3 mL), then add tert-butyl 4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-5,6-dihydropyridine-1(2H)-carboxylate (207 mg, 0.926 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium [Pd(PPh₃)₄, 35 mg, 0.03 mmol] and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (1 mL) under nitrogen atmosphere. Stir the reaction mixture overnight at 120° C. TLC (PE:EtOAc=5:1) shows the reaction is complete. Partition the mixture between EtOAc and water, dry the organic layer over sodium sulfate, filter and concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure. Purify the residue by flash chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=5:1) to afford the desired product (289 mg, 84%).

Step 2: Synthesis of tert-butyl 4-(4-amino-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate

Stir the mixture of tert-butyl 4-(4-nitro-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5,6-dihydropyridine-1(2H)-carboxylate (289 mg, 0.776 mmol), methanol (50 mL) and Pd/C (10%, 25 mg) under hydrogen atmosphere for 30 hrs. Remove H₂, filter the mixture and concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure. Purify the residue with flash chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=5:1) to afford the desired product (151 mg, 84%).

Step 3: Synthesis of 4-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)aniline

Add LiAlH₄ (66.5 mg, 1.75 mmol) at 0° C. to the mixture of tert-butyl 4-(4-amino-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidine-1-carboxylat (151 mg, 0.438 mmol) in THF (3 mL), stir the reaction mixture overnight at room temperature. Quench the reaction with 15% sodium hydroxide solution, filter and concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure. Purify the residue by flash chromatography (silica gel, DCM:MeOH=15:1) to afford the desired product (70 mg, 56%). MS: (M+1): 259.1.

Step 1: Synthesis of 1-(methylsulfonyl)-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene

Stir the mixture of 1-bromo-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (6 g, 22.2 mmol), sodium methanesulfinate (2.8 g, 26.7 mmol), cuprous iodide (0.5 g, 2.22 mmol), L(—)-proline (0.5 g, 4.44 mmol) and sodium hydroxide (0.088 g, 4.44 mmol) in DMSO (20 mL) at 100° C. for 15 hrs under nitrogen atmosphere. Add water, extract the mixture with ethyl acetate (200 mL×3), combine the organic layers, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and concentrate the mixture under reduced pressure. Purify the residue by flash chromatography to afford the desired product (2 g, 33.3%).

Step 2: Synthesis of 3-(methylsulfonyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline

Stir the mixture of 1-(methylsulfonyl)-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (2 g, 7.43 mmol), Pd/C (10%, 500 mg) in methanol (100 mL) under hydrogen atmosphere at room temperature for 15 hrs. Filter off the solid and concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure. Purify the residue with flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:5) to afford the desired product (1.3 g, 73%). MS: (M+23): 262.0.

Step 1: Synthesis of 1-methyl-3-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)pyrrolidine

Add 3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenol (1.6 g, 7.7 mmol), 1-methylpyrrolidin-3-ol (940 mg, 9.3 mmol), triphenylphosphine (3.4 g, 11.6 mmol) in THF (20 mL), stir on ice bath, then add diethyl azodicarboxylate (DEAD, 2.0 g, 11.6 mmol). Stir the mixture at ambient temperature for 15 hrs. Add water (100 mL), then extract the mixture with ethyl acetate (100 mL×3), combine the organic layers and dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Filter and concentrate the filtrate to get the crude product. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, DCM:MeOH=20:1) to afford the target product (1.5 g, 67%). MS: (M+1): 291.1.

Step 2: Synthesis of 3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-3-yloxy)-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline

Add Pd/C (10%, 400 mg) to the solution of 1-methyl-3-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl) phenoxy)pyrrolidine (1.54 g, 5.31 mmol) in methanol (10 mL). Stir the mixture under hydrogen atmosphere at room temperature for 15 hrs. Filter off the solid and concentrate the filtrate to give crude product. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) to afford the target compound (900 mg, 65%). MS: (M+1): 261.1.

Intermediate C4 can be prepared with similar method (Table C1).

Step 1: Synthesis of tert-butyl 4-(methoxy(methyl)carbamoyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate

Add N,O-dimethylhydroxylamine hydrochloride (2.52 g, 26 mmol), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) (2.8 g, 20.8 mmol), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDCI.HCl)(4 g, 20.8 mmol) and 4-methylmorpholine (5.28 g, 52 mmol) at 0° C. to the solution of N-Boc-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid (4 g, 17.4 mmol) in DMF (50 mL), stir the mixture overnight at room temperature. TLC (PE:EtOAc=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Partition between ethyl acetate and water, collect the organic layer and wash with brine, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filter and concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (4.5 g, 95%) which is used in next step without further purification.

Step 2: Synthesis of tert-butyl-4-(3-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate

Add n-butyllithium (2.5 N, 1.44 mL) to the solution of 1,3-dibromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (1 g, 3.28 mmol) in THF (15 mL) at −78° C. and stir the mixture at −78° C. for 1 hr. Then add tert-butyl 4-(methoxy(methyl)carbamoyl) piperidine-1-carboxylate (1.4 g, 4.92 mmol) obtained in Step 1 to the mixture and continue stirring. TLC (PE:EtOAc=5:1) shows the reaction is complete. Quench the reaction mixture with saturated ammonium chloride solution. Partition between EtOAc and water, separate the organic layer, and wash with brine, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate, concentrate to give the crude product. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, DCM:MeOH=20:1) to afford the product (387 mg, 27%). MS: (M+1): 436.

Step 3: Synthesis of (3-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)(piperidin-4-yl)methanone

Add trifluoroacetic acid in dichloromethane (20%, 5 mL) to the solution of tert-butyl-4-(3-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate (387 mg, 0.88 mmol) in dichloromethane (5 mL) at 0° C., stir the mixture. TLC (PE:EtOAc=5:1) shows the reaction is complete. Concentrate under reduced pressure to dryness to afford the crude product (400 mg, 100%) which is used directly in next step. MS: (M+1): 336.0.

Step 4: Synthesis of (3-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)methanone

Stir the mixture of (3-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)(piperidin-4-yl)methanone (400 mg, 0.96 mmol), formic acid (1 mL) and formaldehyde (1 mL) at 100° C. overnight. Upon the reaction completion, concentrate under reduced pressure to provide the crude product (250 mg, 77%) which is used in next step without further purification.

Step 5: Synthesis of (3-(diphenylmethyleneamino)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)methanone

Add benzophenone imine (195 mg, 1.07 mmol), (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 37 mg, 0.059 mmol), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium [Pd₂(dba)₃, 25 mg, 0.027 mmol] and cesium carbonate (585 mg, 1.79 mmol) to the solution of (3-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)methanone (251 mg, 0.717 mmol) in dioxane (5 mL), then stir the reaction mixture overnight at 100° C. Upon reaction completion, filter the mixture and concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure. Purify the residue with flash chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=1:1) to afford the product (210 mg, 65%). MS: (M+1): 451.2.

Step 6: Synthesis of (3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)methanone

Dissolve (3-(diphenylmethyleneamino)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)methanone (210 mg, 0.47 mmol) in THF (2 mL) in an ice-bath, add hydrochloric acid (4N, 0.5 mL), then stir it at room temperature for one hour. TLC (PE:EtOAc=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Partition the mixture between EtOAc and water. Collect the aqueous layer, adjust pH=9 with sodium hydroxide solution, extract with ethyl acetate three times, combine the organic layers, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate, concentrate to yield the crude product (78 mg, 59%). MS: (M+1): 287.1.

Step 1: Synthesis of 1-(3-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenylamino)propan-2-ol

Add propylene oxide (36 mg, 0.624 mmol) and lithium perchlorate (56 mg, 0.458 mmol) to the solution of 3-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline (100 mg, 0.416 mmol) in acetonitrile (5 mL), stir the resulting mixture overnight at ambient temperature. Upon completion of the reaction, concentrate the mixture under reduced pressure. Purify the residue by flash chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=5:1) to afford the product (136 mg, 100%).

Step 2: Synthesis of 3-(3-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5-methyloxazolidin-2-one

Add triethylamine (339 mg, 3.35 mmol) and triphosgene (250 mg, 0.838 mmol) to the solution of 1-(3-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenylamino)propan-2-ol (500 mg, 1.68 mmol) in dichloromethane (8 mL), stir the resulting mixture overnight at ambient temperature. Partition the reaction mixture between dichloromethane and water, separate the organic layer, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purify with flash chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=1:1) to afford the product (530 mg, 97%). MS: (M+1): 324.0.

Step 3: Synthesis of 3-(3-(diphenylmethyleneamino)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5-methyloxazolidin-2-one

Add benzophenone imine (3.56 g, 2 mmol), (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 43 mg, 0.069 mmol), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium [Pd₂(dba)₃, 90 mg, 0.098 mmol] and cesium carbonate (858 mg, 2.63 mmol) to the solution of 3-(3-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5-methyloxazolidin-2-one (430 mg, 1.32 mmol) in dioxane (5 mL). Stir the mixture under nitrogen atmosphere at 100° C. overnight. TLC (PE:EtOAc=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Filter the mixture and concentrate the filtrate to yield the crude product. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=1:1) to afford the product (500 mg, 89%).

Step 4: Synthesis of 3-(3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5-methyloxazolidin-2-one

Add hydrochloric acid (4 N, 1 mL) to the solution of the above imine (310 mg, 0.731 mmol) in THF (5 mL) in an ice-bath. Then stir the reaction for half hour at ambient temperature. TLC (PE:EtOAc=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Partition the mixture between water and ethyl acetate, collect the aqueous layer, adjust pH=9 with sodium hydroxide solution, extract the aqueous layer with ethyl acetate three times, combine the organic layers, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate, concentrate under reduced pressure to get the crude product (170 mg, 89%). MS: (M+1): 261.0.

Step 1: Synthesis of methyl 3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

Add thionyl chloride (2 mL) dropwise to the solution of 3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (1.5 g, 6.4 mmol) in methanol (20 mL), reflux for 5 hrs. TLC (PE:EtOAc=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (1.8 g, 100%) which is used in next step without further purification.

Step 2: Synthesis of 3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzohydrazide

Mix methyl 3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (1.8 g, 12 mmol), ethanol (6 mL) and 80% (w/w) hydrazine (10 mL), reflux overnight. Concentrate the mixture, partition the resulting residue between ethyl acetate and water, collect the organic layer, wash with sodium bicarbonate, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (1.23 g, 77%) which is used in next step without further purification.

Step 3: Synthesis of 5-(3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-amine

Add sodium bicarbonate (270 mg, 3.21 mmol) and cyanogen bromide (187 mg, 1.76 mmol) to the solution of 3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzohydrazide (400 mg, 1.6 mmol) in ethanol (5 mL), reflux for 5 hrs. TLC (PE:EtOAc=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Concentrate the mixture, partition the residue between EtOAc and water, collect the organic layer, wash with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and concentrate under reduced pressure to afford the crude product. Recrystallization in ethyl acetate yields the pure product (280 mg, 63%).

Step 1: Synthesis of 2-methoxy-N-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)acetamide

Stir the mixture of 3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline (500 mg, 2.4 mmol), 2-methoxyacetic acid (220 mg, 2.4 mmol), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt, 324 mg, 2.4 mmol), N-methyl morpholine (NMM, 480 mg, 4.8 mmol), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyllaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDCI.HCl, 920 mg, 4.8 mmol) in DMF (8 mL) at 80° C. for 16 hrs. Cool the reaction mixture to room temperature, add water (100 mL), extract with ethyl acetate (30 mL×2), combine the organic layers, wash with brine, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=15:85) to yield the target compound (260 mg, 39%).

Step 2: Synthesis of N-(3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-2-methoxyacetamide

Add Pd/C (10%, 30 mg) to the solution of 2-methoxy-N-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)acetamide (100 mg, 0.36 mmol) in methanol (6 mL), stir the mixture under hydrogen atmosphere at room temperature for 16 hrs. Filter off the solid, concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to yield the crude product (89 mg, 100%) which is used without further purification.

Intermediate C9 can be synthesized with similar method (Table C1)

TABLE C1 Intermediates C1-C9 MS Number Starting material Intermediate [M + 1]⁺ C1 

259.2 C2 

[M + 23] 262.0 C3 

261.1 C4 

248.1 C5 

287.1 C6 

NA C7 

NA C8 

249.1 C9 

219.1

Step 1: Synthesis of 1-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethanol

Add sodium borohydride (95 mg, 2.44 mmol) to a solution of 1-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethanone (570 mg, 2.44 mmol) in methanol (5 mL), stir the mixture for 15 min at ambient temperature. Quench the reaction with water, adjust pH=7 with 1N hydrochloric acid, extract with ethyl acetate (50 mL×3), combine the organic layers, wash with brine, dry over sodium sulfate. Concentrate under reduced pressure to provide the crude product. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:10) to afford the title compound (520 mg, 91.2%).

Step 2: Synthesis of 1-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate

Add p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (1.7 g, 8.9 mmol) dropwise at 0° C. to the mixture of 1-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethanol (520 mg, 2.23 mmol) and triethylamine (1.4 g, 13.4 mmol) in dichloromethane (20 mL), stir the resulting mixture for 12 hrs at ambient temperature. Concentrate the mixture under reduced pressure to get a residue, purify the residue by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:10) to afford the title compound (700 mg, 80.6%).

Step 3: Synthesis of tert-butyl 4-(1-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethyl)piperazine-1-carboxylate

Stir the mixture of 1-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate (350 mg, 0.90 mmol), 1-piperazinecarboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (335 mg, 1.8 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (232 mg, 1.8 mmol) in THF (10 mL) for 12 hrs at 80° C. Concentrate the reaction mixture to obtain the crude product, purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:10) to afford the title compound (280 mg, 77.1%). MS: (M+1): 404.2.

Step 4: Synthesis of tert-butyl 4-(1-(3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethyl) piperazine-1-carboxylate

Add Pd/C (10%, 75 mg) to the solution of tert-butyl 4-(1-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl)ethyl)piperazine-1-carboxylate (280 mg, 0.69 mmol) in methanol (20 mL), stir the resulting mixture under hydrogen atmosphere for 2 hrs at room temperature. Filter and concentrate the filtrate to afford the crude product. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE-1:1) to afford the title compound (165 mg, 63.7%). MS: (M+1): 374.1.

Intermediates C11-C12 can be synthesized with similar method (Table C2).

TABLE C2 Intermediates C10-C12 MS Number Starting material Intermediate [M + 1]⁺ C10

374.2 C11

288.2 C12

NA

Step 1: Synthesis of 4-fluoro-1-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidine

Mix 1-bromo-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (700 mg, 2.59 mmol), 4-fluoropiperidine hydrochloride (544 mg, 3.89 mmol), cesium carbonate (2.5 g, 7.77 mmol), (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 48 mg, 0.077 mmol), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium [Pd₂(dba)₃, 47 mg, 0.052 mmol] in dioxane (10 mL), Stir the mixture under nitrogen atmosphere at 100° C. for 16 hrs. Cool the reaction mixture to room temperature, dilute it with water (10 mL), extract with ethyl acetate (10 mL×2), combine the organic layers, wash with brine (15 mL) and dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Concentrate the filtrate to get the crude product. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, 100% PE) to yield the target compound (480 mg, 63%).

Step 2: Synthesis of 3-(4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline

Add Pd/C (10%, 70 mg) to the solution of 4-fluoro-1-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidine (300 mg, 1.0 mmol) in methanol (10 mL), stir the mixture under hydrogen atmosphere for 16 hrs at room temperature. Filter and concentrate the filtrate to get the crude product (270 mg, 100%) which is used directly without further purification.

Intermediates C14-20 can be synthesized with similar method (Table C3).

TABLE C3 Intermediates C13-C20 MS Number Starting material Intermediate [M + 1]⁺ C13

263.1 C14

[M + 23] 382.2 C15

275.2 C16

274.2 C17

219.2 C18

NA C19

NA C20

NA

Step 1: Synthesis of 1-(chloromethyl)-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene

Add slowly tosyl chloride (1.1 g, 6.02 mmol) to the mixture of (3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)methanol (1.1 g, 5.18 mmol) and triethylamine (1.62 mL) in dichloromethane (20 mL) at 0° C., stir the resulting mixture for 15 hrs at room temperature. Concentrate the mixture to obtain the crude product, purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:15) to afford the title compound (655 mg, 55%).

Step 2: Synthesis of 1-methyl-4-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)piperazine

Stir the mixture of 1-(chloromethyl)-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (640 mg, 2.68 mmol) and N-methylpiperazine (536 mg, 5.36 mmol) in THF (8 mL) for 2 hrs at 60° C. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Concentrate the reaction mixture under reduced pressure to obtain the crude product (812 mg, 100%). MS: (M+1): 303.1.

Step 3: Synthesis of 3-((4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline

Add Pd/C (10%, 200 mg) to the solution of 1-methyl-4-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)piperazine (812 mg, 2.68 mmol) in methanol (15 mL), flush with H₂, stir under hydrogen atmosphere for 16 hrs at room temperature. Filter and concentrate the filtrate to give the crude product (732 mg, 100%). MS: (M+1): 273.0.

Step 1: Synthesis of N-(3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-chlorobutanamide

Mix 5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene-1,3-diamine (300 mg, 1.70 mmol), 4-chlorobutanoic acid (230 mg, 1.87 mmol), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyllaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDCI.HCl, 650 mg, 3.40 mmol), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt, 230 mg, 1.70 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (450 mg, 3.40 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 mL), stir overnight at room temperature. Concentrate the reaction mixture under reduced pressure to obtain the crude product. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=1:10) to yield the product (250 mg, 52%). MS: (M+1): 281.2.

Step 2: Synthesis of 1-(3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)pyrrolidin-2-one

Add sodium hydride (60%, 65 mg, 1.64 mmol) portionwise to the solution of N-(3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-chlorobutanamide (230 mg, 0.82 mmol) in THF (5 mL), stir the resulting mixture for 2 hrs at ambient temperature. Quench the reaction with water, extract the mixture with ethyl acetate, wash the organic layer with water and brine sequentially, and dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate, concentrate to give brownish oil. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=1:1) to yield white solid as the title compound (180 mg, 90%). MS: (M+1): 245.1.

Step 1: Synthesis of 2-fluoroethyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate

Add toluenesulfonyl chloride (1.8 g, 9.4 mmol) to the mixture of 2-fluoroethanol (500 mg, 7.8 mmol) and triethylamine (1.6 g, 15.6 mmol) in dichloromethane (30 mL) at 0-5° C. Stir the reaction at ambient temperature for 5 hrs. Remove the volatiles under reduced pressure to yield the crude product. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=2:1) to afford a white solid as the title compound (1.3 g, 77%).

Step 2: Synthesis of 1-(2-fluoroethyl)-4-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperazine

Mix (3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperazine (200 mg, 0.73 mmol), 2-fluoroethyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate (320 mg, 1.46 mmol) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (50 mg, 0.37 mmol) in THF (15 mL), stir at 90° C. overnight. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give a residue, purify the residue by flash chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=1:1) to yield a white solid as the target compound (120 mg, 51%).

Step 3: Synthesis of 3-(4-(2-fluoroethyl)piperazin-1-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline

Stir the mixture of 1-(2-fluoroethyl)-4-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperazine (120 mg, 0.50 mol) and Pd/C (10%, 30 mg) in methanol (5 mL) under hydrogen atmosphere for 2 hrs at room temperature. Filter and concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to afford the white solid as the target compound (90 mg, 84%).

Intermediates C24-C25 can be synthesized with similar method (Table C4)

TABLE C4 Intermediates C21-C25 MS Number Starting material Intermediate [M + 1]⁺ C21

274.2 C22

245.1 C23

NA C24

NA C25

NA

Step 1: Synthesis of 3-bromo-5-(1,1-difluoroethyl) pyridine

Heat the mixture of 1-(5-bromopyridin-3-yl)ethanone (500 mg, 2.5 mmol), bis-(2-methoxyethyl)aminosulfur trifluoride (BAST, 2.2 g, 10 mmol) in dichloromethane (8 mL) in a sealed tube at 60° C. overnight. TLC (PE:EtOAc=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Concentrate the mixture, purify the residue by flash chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=1:1) to afford the title compound (200 mg, 36%). MS: (M+1): 222/224.

Step 2: Synthesis of 5-(1,1-difluoroethyl)-N-(diphenylmethylene)pyridin-3-amine

Add benzophenone imine (215 mg, 1.19 mmol), cesium carbonate (640 mg, 1.96 mmol), (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 98 mg, 0.16 mmol), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium [Pd₂(dba)₃, 90 mg, 0.098 mmol] to the solution of 3-bromo-5-(1,1-difluoroethyl)pyridine (200 mg, 0.9 mmol) in dioxane (10 mL), stir the resulting mixture under nitrogen atmosphere at 100° C. for 16 hrs. Cool the reaction mixture to room temperature, filter off the solid, concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure, purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=2:1) to yield the title compound (296 mg, 92%). MS: (M+1): 323.

Step 3: Synthesis of 5-(1,1-difluoroethyl)pyridin-3-amine

Add 5-(1,1-difluoroethyl)-N-(diphenylmethylene)pyridin-3-amine (296 mg, 0.92 mmol), water (1 mL) and hydrochloric acid (1N, 4 mL) to THF (10 mL), stir at room temperature for 3 hrs. TLC (PE:EtOAc=2:1) shows the reaction is complete. Extract the mixture with ethyl acetate, wash the organic layer with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and brine sequentially, and dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) yields the title compound (140 mg, 96.5%). MS: (M+1): 159.2.

Synthesis of 3-cyclopropylaniline

Stir the mixture of 3-bromoaniline (400 mg, 2.35 mmol), cyclopropylboronic acid (240 mg, 2.79 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (140 mg, 0.12 mmol), cesium carbonate (1.5 g, 4.60 mmol) in dioxane (5 mL) and water (0.3 mL) under nitrogen atmosphere for 17 hrs at 100° C. Cool the reaction to room temperature, filter and concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=3:7) to afford the title compound (120 mg, 38.8%). MS: (M+1): 134.0.

Step 1: Synthesis of 5-bromo-2-fluoroaniline

Mix 4-bromo-1-fluoro-2-nitrobenzene (2 g, 9.17 mmol) and stannous chloride dihydrate (8 g, 35 mmol) in ethanol (20 mL), heat the mixture to reflux for 4 hrs. Cool the reaction to room temperature, dilute with water and adjust pH=12 with sodium hydroxide solution, filter off the solid. Partition the filtrate in water and dichloromethane, collect the organic layer, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and concentrate under reduced pressure to give crude product (800 mg, 46.5%). MS: (M+1): 190/192.

Step 2: Synthesis of 5-cyclopropyl-2-fluoroaniline

Stir the mixture of 5-bromo-2-fluoroaniline (800 mg, 4.26 mmol), cyclopropylboronic acid (434 mg, 5.05 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (242 mg, 0.21 mmol), cesium carbonate (2.7 g, 8.28 mmol) in dioxane (5 mL) and water (0.3 mL) under N₂ atmosphere at 100° C. for 17 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:3) shows the reaction is complete. Filter off the solid, concentrate the filtrate. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=3:7) to afford the title compound (350 mg, 55%). MS: (M+1): 152.1.

Step 1: Synthesis of 3,3-difluoro-5-nitroindolin-2-one

Add 5-nitro-indoline-2,3-dione (5 g, 15.7 mmol) and bis-(2-methoxyethyl)aminosulfur trifluoride (20 mL) in dichloromethane (100 mL), stir at room temperature for 12 hrs. Quench the reaction with methanol (10 mL), pour the mixture into ice water (50 mL), extract with dichloromethane, combine the organic layers, wash with brine, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate, concentrate under reduced pressure, purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:4) to afford the title compound (3.5 g, 62.8%).

Step 2: Synthesis of 3-fluoro-5-nitro-1H-indole

Add borane-tetrahydrofuran complex (1M, 15 mL) dropwise to the solution of 3,3-difluoro-5-nitroindolin-2-one (650 mg, 3 mmol) in THF (10 mL) at 0° C. After addition, stir the reaction at 70° C. for 5 hrs. Concentrate under reduced pressure, add ethyl acetate to the residue, wash the organic layer with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution twice and then with brine twice, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Concentrate under reduced pressure to obtain the crude product. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) to yield the title compound (500 mg, 91.5%).

Step 3: Synthesis of 3-fluoro-1H-indol-5-amine

Add zinc powder (387 mg, 5 mmol) portionwise to a solution of 3-fluoro-5-nitro-1H-indole (360 mg, 2 mmol) in methanol (10 mL). Then add dropwise 15.5% ammonium chloride solution (10 mL, 20 mmol), stir the reaction at ambient temperature for 5 hrs. Filter, dilute the filtrate with water (50 mL), extract with ethyl acetate (50 mL×2), wash with brine (50 mL×2), dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) to yield the title compound (150 mg, 50%). MS: (M+1): 151.2.

Step 1: Synthesis of methyl 2-(2-nitrophenyl)acetate

Add sulfonyl chloride (3 mL) dropwise to a solution of 2-nitrophenylacetic acid (7.0 g, 38.6 mmol) in methanol (20 mL) at 0° C., reflux the resulting mixture overnight. TLC (PE:EtOAc=3:1) shows the reaction is complete. Concentrate the reaction mixture under reduced pressure, add water, extract with ethyl acetate twice, and wash the combined organic layers with brine, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Concentrate under reduced pressure to yield the crude product (7.5 g, 94.7%) which is used directly without further purification. MS: (M+1): 196.1.

Step 2: Synthesis of methyl 2-(2-aminophenyl)acetate

Add Pd/C (10%, 800 mg) to a solution of methyl 2-(2-nitrophenyl)acetate (7.5 g, 38.5 mmol) in methanol (50 mL) under N₂, then flush with H₂, stir the reaction under H₂ atmosphere at room temperature overnight. Remove the hydrogen; filter off the solid, concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to obtain the crude product (4.8 g, 76.2%) which is used directly without further purification. MS: (M+1):166.

Step 3: Synthesis of indolin-2-one

Stir the mixture of methyl 2-(2-aminophenyl)acetate (4.8 g, 29.1 mmol) and potassium carbonate (8.0 g, 58.2 mmol) in DMF (15 mL) at room temperature overnight. TLC (PE:EtOAc=2:1) shows the reaction is complete. Concentrate the reaction mixture under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purify by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:2) to afford the title compound (4.0 g, 95%). MS: (M+1): 134.2.

Step 4: Synthesis of 1-methylindolin-2-one

Add diethyl azodicarboxylate (DEAD, 8.0 g, 44.9 mmol) dropwise to a solution of indolin-2-one (4.0 g, 30.0 mmol), methanol (1.4 g, 44.9 mmol) and triphenylphosphine (12.0 g, 44.9 mmol) in THF (40 mL) at 0° C., stir the reaction at room temperature overnight. Concentrate under reduced pressure, purify the resulting residue with flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) to afford the title compound (2.6 g, 59.1%). MS: (M+1): 148.2.

Step 5: Synthesis of 1′-methylspiro[cyclopropane-1,3′-indolin]-2′-one

Add sodium hydride (60%, 1.4 g, 35.4 mmol) portionwise to the solution of 1-methylindolin-2-one (2.6 g, 17.7 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) at 0° C., stir for 30 min. Then add 1,2-dibromoethane (3.31 g, 17.7 mmol) to the mixture, stir the resulting mixture at room temperature overnight. Pour the reaction mixture to ice water, extract with ethyl acetate (100 mL×2), and wash the combined organic layers with brine (50 mL), dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Concentrate under reduced pressure, purify the residue by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) to provide the title compound (1.5 g, 50.0%). MS: (M+1): 174.

Step 6: Synthesis of 5′-bromo-1′-methylspiro[cyclopropane-1,3′-indolin]-2′-one

Add bromine (1.4 g, 8.7 mmol) dropwise to the mixture of 1′-methylspiro[cyclopropane-1,3′-indolin]-2′-one (1.5 g, 8.7 mmol), sodium acetate (0.7 g, 8.7 mmol) and acetic acid (0.52 g, 8.7 mmol) in dichloromethane (15 mL) at 0° C. After addition, stir the resulting mixture at room temperature overnight. Pour the reaction mixture to the cold sodium thiosulfate solution, extract with ethyl acetate (100 mL×2), combine the organic layers, and wash with brine (20 mL), dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Concentrate the solution under reduced pressure to give the crude product, purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:5) to afford the title compound (1.0 g, 47.6%). MS: (M+1): 254.

Step 7: Synthesis of 5′-amino-1′-methylspiro[cyclopropane-1,3′-indolin]-2′-one

Add 5′-bromo-1′-methylspiro[cyclopropane-1,3′-indolin]-2′-one (1.0 g, 4.0 mmol), benzophenone imine (1.4 g, 8.0 mmol), cesium carbonate (3.2 g, 10.0 mmol), (±)-2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene (BINAP, 500 mg, 0.80 mmol), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) [Pd₂(dba)₃, 500 mg, 0.55 mmol] to dioxane (20 mL), stir the reaction under nitrogen atmosphere at 110° C. overnight. Cool to room temperature; filter off the solid, concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to give a residue. Add hydrochloric acid (1N, 2 mL) and THF (15 mL) to the residue; stir the mixture for 30 mins at room temperature. TLC (PE:EtOAc=1:1) shows the reaction is almost complete. Concentrate the mixture under reduce pressure to give the crude product, purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) to afford the title compound as a yellow solid (0.7 g, 93.3%). MS: (M+1): 189.1.

Data of intermediate C26-30 are summarized in Table C5 below.

TABLE C5 Intermediates C26-C30 MS Number Starting material Intermediate [M + 1]⁺ C26

159.1 C27

134.1 C28

152.1 C29

151.1 C30

189.1

Step 1: Synthesis of tert-butyl 4-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5,6-dihydropyridine-1(2H)-carboxylate

Mix 1-bromo-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (200 mg, 0.65 mmol), tert-butyl 4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-5,6-dihydropyridine-1 (2H)-carboxylate (175 mg, 0.65 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (35 mg, 0.03 mmol) in dioxane and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (3:1, 10 mL), stir the mixture at 120° C. for 1.5 hrs. Cool to room temperature; concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=20:1) to afford the product as a yellow solid (310 mg, 82.8%). MS: (M+23): 395.2.

Step 2: Synthesis of tert-butyl 4-[3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidine-1-carboxylate

Add tert-butyl 4-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5,6-dihydropyridine-1(2H)-carboxylate (300 mg, 1.87 mmol) and Pd/C (10%, 50 mg) in ethanol (10 mL), flush with H₂, stir under hydrogen atmosphere for 48 hrs at room temperature, filter and concentrate the filtrate to yield a white solid (220 mg, 73.9%). MS: (M+23): 367.

Step 3: Synthesis of 3-(1-methyl-4-piperidyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline

Add lithium aluminum hydride (120 mg, 3.2 mmol) to a solution of the compound prepared in Step 2 (220 mg, 0.64 mmol) in THF (20 mL), stir the mixture at 90° C. for 12 hrs, TLC (MeOH:DCM=1:1) shows the reaction is complete, quench the reaction with water (2 mL), extract with ethyl acetate (20 mL), wash the organic layer with water and brine sequentially, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product, purify by flash chromatography (silica gel, MeOH:DCM=1:10) to afford the product as a yellow oil (110 mg, 48.3%).

Step 1: Synthesis of 4-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine

Dissolve tert-butyl 4-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5,6-dihydropyridine-1(2H)-carboxylate (300 mg, 0.81 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 mL), add trifluoroacetic acid (3 mL), stir at room temperature overnight. Adjust pH=8 with saturated NaHCO₃ solution, extract with ethyl acetate, wash the organic extract with water and brine sequentially, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Concentrate under reduced pressure to provide yellow oil (220 mg, 100%) which is used directly in next step.

Step 2: Synthesis of 1-cyclopropyl-4-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine

Stir the mixture of 4-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (150 mg, 0.55 mmol), (1-ethoxycyclopropoxy)trimethylsilane (700 mg, 2.4 mmol), sodium cyanoborohydride (200 mg, 3.3 mmol) and acetic acid (240 mg, 4.0 mmol) in ethanol (10 mL) at 60° C. overnight. Concentrate the mixture to get a residue, partition between EtOAc and water, collect the organic layer, wash with water and brine sequentially, and dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the product as a yellow solid (135 mg, 79%). MS: (M+1): 313.1.

Step 3: Synthesis of 3-(1-cyclopropylpiperidin-4-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline

Stir the mixture of Pd/C (10%, 30 mg), 1-cyclopropyl-4-(3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (120 mg 0.32 mmol) in methanol (10 mL) under hydrogen atmosphere at room temperature for 18 hrs. Remove hydrogen atmosphere, filter off the solid, concentrate the filtrate to yield the product as a white solid (85 mg, 94%). MS: (M+1): 285.1.

Data of intermediates C31-C32 are summarized in Table C6 below.

TABLE C6 Intermediates C31-C32 MS Number Starting material Intermediate [M + 1]⁺ C31

NA C32

285.2

Data of other commercially available intermediates C33-C37 are summarized in Table C7 below.

TABLE C7 Other intermediates C33-C37 Number Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ C33

NA C34

NA C35

NA C36

NA C37

176.1

Preparation of Intermediate D

Step 1: Synthesis of phenyl N-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamate

Add 4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)aniline (1.0 g, 5.1 mmol) and pyridine (1.0 g, 12.8 mmol) in DCM (10 mL), stir well and cool to 0° C. Add phenyl chloroformate (1.04 g, 6.6 mmol) at 0° C. After addition, stir the reaction at room temperature for 1 hr. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:2) shows the reaction is complete. Wash the organic layer with 1M HCl solution (20 mL) and brine (20 mL) respectively. Dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄; concentrate under reduced pressure to give the target compound (1.16 g) which is used without further purification. MS: (M+1): 316.1.

Intermediates D2-D16 can be synthesized with similar method (Table D1).

TABLE D1 Intermediates D1-D16 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ D1

316.1 D2

300.1 D3

NA D4

296.1 D5

NA D6

NA D7

NA D8

NA D9

NA D10

282.1 D11

283.2 D12

316.1 D13

296.2 D14

359.1 D15

360.1 D16

NA

Step 1: Synthesis of 1-methyl-N-[3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-4-amine

Add 1-bromo-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (3 g, 11.11 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (9.5 g, 27.78 mmol), 1-methylpiperidin-4-amine (1.9 g, 16.67 mmol) to 1,4-dioxane (25 mL), then under N₂, add Pd(OAc)₂ (50 mg, 0.22 mmol) and BINAP (207 mg, 0.33 mmol). Stir the reaction at 120° C. under N₂ overnight. TLC (DCM:MeOH=10:1) shows the reaction is complete. Cool to room temperature and filter off the solid. Concentrate the filtrate to get the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, DCM:MeOH-10:1) affords the title compound (3.44 g, 99%). MS: (M+1): 304.

Step 2: Synthesis of N1-(1-methyl-4-piperidyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene-1,3-diamine

Dissolve the compound obtained in last step (3.44 g, 11.3 mmol) in methanol (30 mL), add Pd/C (10%, 0.6 g), flush with H₂. Stir the reaction at 30° C. under H₂ atmosphere overnight. TLC (DCM:MeOH=10:1) shows the reaction is complete. Filter, and concentrate the filtrate to get the crude product (2.9 g) which is used without further purification. MS: (M+1): 294.1.

Step 3: Synthesis of phenyl N-[3-[(1-methyl-4-piperidyl)amino]-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamate

Dissolve the compound obtained in Step 2 (2.9 g, 10.61 mmol) in THF (30 mL), cool to −30° C., then add pyridine (1.68 g, 21.22 mmol) and phenyl chloroformate (1.83 g, 11.67 mmol). Stir at room temperature for 3 hrs. TLC (DCM:MeOH=10:1) shows the reaction is complete. Pour the solution to a mixture of EtOAc and water, separate the organic layer, and wash with brine, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (4.3 g). MS: (M+1): 394.1.

Intermediates D18-D20 can be synthesized with similar method (Table D2).

TABLE D2 Intermediates D17-D20 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ D17

394.1 D18

373.1 D19

NA D20

381.1

Step 1: Synthesis of tert-butyl 4-[3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyrazole-1-carboxylate

Add 1-bromo-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (0.165 g, 0.61 mmol), tert-butyl 4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)pyrazole-1-carboxylate (0.18 g, 0.61 mmol), sodium acetate (0.1 g, 1.2 mmol), [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium (II) (22 mg, 0.03 mmol) to 1,4-dioxane (15 mL) and water (2 mL). Stir the mixture at 100° C. under N₂ for 6 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:1) shows that the reaction is complete. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (0.17 g, 80.9%). MS: (M+1): 358.2.

Step 2: Synthesis of tert-butyl 4-[3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyrazole-1-carboxylate

Add the compound obtained in Step 1 (0.17 g, 0.48 mmol) to methanol (15 mL), then add Pd/C (10%) under N₂. Flush with H₂, stir the reaction under H₂ atmosphere at room temperature for 2 hrs. Filter off the solid, concentrate the filtrate to give the crude product (0.08 g) which is used directly without further purification. MS: (M+1): 328.1.

Step 3: Synthesis of tert-butyl 4-[3-(phenoxycarbonylamino)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyrazole-1-carboxylate

Mix the compound obtained in Step 2 (0.08 g, 0.24 mmol), pyridine (0.018 g, 0.24 mmol) and DCM (5 mL), add slowly phenyl chloroformate (0.042 g, 0.26 mmol) at 0° C. Stir the reaction at room temperature for one hour. Remove the solvent under reduced pressure to give a crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (65 mg, 78.3%).

Intermediates D22 can be prepared with similar method (Table D3).

TABLE D3 Intermediates D21-D22 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ D21

NA D22

[M + 23] 487.2

Step 1: Synthesis of N-[3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]prop-2-enamide

Dissolve 3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline (150 mg, 0.73 mmol), triethylamine (220 mg, 2.18 mmol) in DCM (8 mL), cool to 0° C. at ice bath, add slowly acryloyl chloride (198 mg, 2.18 mmol). After addition, stir the reaction at room temperature for 2 hrs. Pour the mixture into water (30 mL), extract with EtOAc (10 mL×3), combine the organic layers; wash with brine (50 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (190 mg) which is used without further purification.

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]prop-2-enamide

Dissolve the product obtained in Step 1 (190 mg, 0.73 mmol) in ethanol (8 mL), add iron powder (204 mg, 3.65 mmol), concentrated HCl (0.43 mL). Stir the reaction at room temperature for 2 hrs. After the reaction is complete, adjust pH to neutral with sodium hydroxide solution. Filter off the solid, mix the filtrate with ice water (50 mL), extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3). Combine the organic layers, wash with brine (100 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, and concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (168 mg) which is used without further purification.

Step 3: Synthesis of phenyl N-[3-(prop-2-enoylamino)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamate

Dissolve the product obtained in Step 2 (168 mg, 0.73 mmol) in DCM (6 mL), add pyridine (115 mg, 1.46 mmol) and then cool to 0° C. on ice bath. Add slowly phenyl chloroformate (125 mg, 0.8 mmol), stir at 0-5° C. for 2 hrs. Pour the mixture into water (50 mL), adjust pH to neutral with 1M HCl and extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3). Combine the organic layers, wash with brine (100 mL) and dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (240 mg) which is used without further purification.

Intermediate D24 can be synthesized with similar method (Table D4).

TABLE D4 Intermediates D23-D24 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ D23

351.1 D24

[M + 23] 487.2

Step 1: Synthesis of tert-butyl 3-[3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]azetidine-1-carboxylate

Dissolve 3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenol (500 mg, 2.4 mmol), tert-butyl 3-hydroxyazetidine-1-carboxylate (500 mg, 2.9 mmol), PPh₃ (9.5 g, 3.6 mmol) in THF (8 mL) and cool to 0° C. on ice bath. Add slowly diethyl azodicarboxylate (630 mg, 3.6 mmol). Stir the mixture at 35° C. for 16 hrs. Pour the mixture into water (50 mL), adjust pH to neutral with saturated NaHCO₃ solution. Extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3), combine the organic layers; wash with brine (100 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=15:85) affords the target compound (760 mg, 87%).

Step 2: Synthesis of tert-butyl 3-[3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]azetidine-1-carboxylate

Dissolve the compound obtained in Step 1 (250 mg, 0.69 mmol) in methanol (10 mL), add wet Pd/C (10%, 70 mg), flush the system with H₂ and stir the reaction under H₂ atmosphere for 16 hrs at room temperature. After the reaction is complete, remove H₂, flush with N₂, filter and concentrate the filtrate to give the crude product (230 mg) which is used without further purification.

Step 3: Synthesis of tert-butyl 3-[3-(phenoxycarbonylamino)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]azetidine-1-carboxylate

Dissolve the product obtained in Step 2 (230 mg, 0.39 mmol) in THF (10 mL), add pyridine (230 mg, 0.69 mmol) and cool to 0° C. on ice bath. Add slowly phenyl chloroformate (118 mg, 0.76 mmol), stir the reaction at 0-5° C. for 30 mins. Pour the reaction mixture into water (50 mL), adjust pH to neutral with 1M HCl solution. Extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3), combine the organic layers, wash with brine (100 mL) and dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (312 mg) which is used without further purification.

Intermediates D26-D29 can be synthesized with similar method (Table D5).

TABLE D5 Intermediates D25-D29 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ D25

[M + 23] 475.2 D26

395.2 D27

NA D28

312.1 D29

NA

Step 1: Synthesis of 1-tert-butoxycarbonylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid

Mix piperidine-4-carboxylic acid (0.5 g, 3.9 mmol) and Boc₂O (1 g, 4.6 mmol) in t-BuOH (10 mL) and stir at 70° C. for 4 hrs. TLC (PE:EtOAc=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Remove the volatiles under reduced pressure to get white solid as the crude product (1.1 g) which is used without further purification.

Step 2: Synthesis of tert-butyl 4-[[3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoyl]piperidine-1-carboxylate

Mix the compound obtained in Step 1 (1.1 g, crude), HOBt (1.6 g, 12 mmol), 5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene-1,3-diamine (845 mg, 4.8 mmol) in DCM (16 mL), add diisopropylethylamine (1.55 g, 12 mmol), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyllaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (2.3 g, 12 mmol) and stir at room temperature for 17 hrs. TLC (PE:EtOAc=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Remove the volatiles under reduced pressure, purify the residue by chromatography (silica gel, EOAc:PE=4:6) to give the title compound (600 mg, 40% two-step yield).

Step 3: Synthesis of tert-butyl 4-[[3-(phenoxycarbonylamino)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoyl]piperidine-1-carboxylate

Mix the compound obtained in Step 2 (600 mg, 1.55 mmol), pyridine (306 mg, 3.9 mmol) in DCM (10 mL), cool to 0-5° C. Add the solution of phenyl chloroformate (315 mg, 2 mmol) in DCM (1 mL). Stir the reaction at room temperature for 1.5 hrs. TLC (PE:EtOAc=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Quench the reaction with water (5 mL), wash the organic layer with 1N HCl solution, saturated NaHCO₃ solution and brine sequentially, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (400 mg, 51%). MS: (M+1): 508.1.

Intermediate D31 can be synthesized with similar method (Table D6).

TABLE D6 Intermediates D30-D31 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ D30

[M + 23] 530.2 D31

NA

Step 1: Synthesis of N-[3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methanesulfonamide

Dissolve 3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline (300 mg, 1.45 mmol) in DCM (5 mL), add triethylamine (294 mg, 2.9 mmol) and then methylsulfonyl chloride (182 mg, 1.6 mmol). Stir the reaction at room temperature for 17 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:3) shows the reaction is complete. Concentrate under reduced pressure to afford the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=3:7) affords the title compound (150 mg, 36%).

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methanesulfonamide

Dissolve the compound obtained in Step 1 (150 mg) in DCM (5 mL), add Pd/C (20%, 50 mg). Flush the system with H₂ and then stir the reaction under H₂ atmosphere at room temperature for 2 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:2) shows the reaction is complete. Remove the H₂, filter and concentrate the filtrate to give the product (110 mg, 82%). MS: (M+1): 255.1.

Step 3: Synthesis of phenyl N-[3-(methanesulfonamido)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamate

Use similar procedure used in the preparation of D1.

Step 1: Synthesis of 4-[3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]thiomorpholine

Add 1-bromo-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (500 mg, 2.9 mmol), thiomorpholine (455 mg, 4.4 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (2.86 g, 8.8 mmol), BINAP (55 mg, 0.09 mmol) and Pd₂(dba)₃ (54 mg, 0.06 mmol) under N₂ to 1,4-dioxane (10 mL), stir the reaction under N₂ at 100° C. for 16 hrs. TLC (100% PE) shows the reaction is complete. Cool the reaction to room temperature, filter and concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to get crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, 100% PE) affords the target compound (475 mg, 55%). MS: (M+1): 293.1.

Step 2: Synthesis of 4-[3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1,4-thiazinane 1,1-dioxide

Dissolve the compound obtained in Step 1 (370 mg, 1.3 mmol) in DCM (30 mL), add mCPBA (655 mg, 3.8 mmol), stir the mixture at room temperature for 1 hr. Add water (20 mL), extract with DCM (20 mL×2), combine the organic layers, wash sequentially with saturated Na₂SO₃ solution (50 mL), saturated NaHCO₃ solution, brine (50 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (400 mg, 97.5%). MS: (M+1): 325.2.

Step 3: Synthesis of 3-(1,1-dioxo-1,4-thiazinan-4-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline

Dissolve the compound obtained in Step 2 (510 mg, 1.57 mmol) in DCM (30 mL), add Pd/C (10%, 100 mg) under N₂ atmosphere, then flush the system with H₂ and stir the reaction under H₂ atmosphere at room temperature for 15 hrs. Remove the H₂, filter the reaction mixture, and concentrate the filtrate to give the crude product (390 mg) which is used directly without further purification. MS: (M+1): 295.1.

Step 4: Synthesis of phenyl N-[3-(1,1-dioxo-1,4-thiazinan-4-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamate

Mix the compound obtained in Step 3 (390 mg, 1.33 mmol) and pyridine (262 mg, 3.31 mmol) in DCM (10 mL), cool to 0° C., add slowly phenyl chloroformate (270 mg, 1.72 mmol). After addition, stir the reaction at room temperature for 1 hr. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:1) shows the reaction is complete. Wash the reaction mixture sequentially with 1M HCl solution (20 mL), brine (20 mL), and dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the target product (600 mg) which is used directly without further purification. MS: (M+1): 415.1.

Step 1: Synthesis of 1-(chloromethyl)-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene

Dissolve [3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methanol (1.1 g, 5.18 mmol) and triethylamine (1.62 mL) in DCM (20 mL), cool to 0° C., add slowly p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (1.1 g, 6.02 mmol). After the addition, stir the reaction at room temperature for 15 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:15) shows the reaction is complete. Concentrate under reduced pressure to get the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:15) affords the title compound (655 mg, 55%).

Step 2: Synthesis of 1-methyl-4-[[3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl]piperazine

Mix the compound obtained in Step 1 (640 mg, 2.68 mmol) and 1-methylpiperazine (536 mg, 5.36 mmol) in THF (8 mL). Stir the reaction at 60° C. for 2 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:10 shows the reaction is complete. Concentrate under reduced pressure to get the title compound (812 mg, 100%). MS: (M+1): 303.1.

Step 3: Synthesis of 3-[(4-methylpinerazin-1-yl)methyl]-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline

Dissolve the nitro compound obtained in Step 2 (812 mg, 2.68 mmol) in methanol (15 mL), add Pd/C (10%, 200 mg) under N₂ atmosphere. Flush the system with H₂ and stir the action under H₂ atmosphere at room temperature for 16 hrs. Remove the H₂, filter off the solid, concentrate the filtrate to get the crude product (732 mg, 100%). MS: (M+1): 273.1.

Step 4: Synthesis of phenyl N-[3-[(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl]-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamate

Dissolve the amine obtained in Step 3 (732 mg, 2.68 mmol) and pyridine (423 mg, 3.52 mmol) in DCM (10 mL), cool to 0° C., add slowly phenyl chloroformate (460 mg, 2.9 mmol). After addition, stir the reaction at room temperature for 2 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=4:1) shows the reaction is complete. Add water, separate the organic layer, and extract the aqueous layer with DCM. Combine the organic layers, wash sequentially with 1M HCl solution, brine, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=4;1) affords the target compound (380 mg, 36%). MS: (M+1): 393.

Step 1: Synthesis of 1-methyl-N-[4-nitro-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-4-amine

Dissolve 1-chloro-4-nitro-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (1.0 g, 4.44 mmol) in DMSO (5 mL), add 1-methylpiperidin-4-amine (0.56 g, 4.89 mmol) and DIEA (1.72 g, 13.3 mmol) and stir the reaction at 80° C. overnight. TLC (DCM:MeOH=10:1) shows the reaction is complete. Add water, extract with EtOAc (10 mL×3), combine the organic layers, wash with water and brine sequentially, and dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to get the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, MeOH:DCM=1:15) affords the title compound (587 mg, 44%). MS: (M+1): 304.2.

Step 2: Synthesis of N1-(1-methyl-4-piperidyl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzene-1,4-diamine

Dissolve the nitro compound obtained in Step 1 (587 mg, 1.94 mmol) in methanol (10 mL), add Pd/C (10%, 176 mg). Flush the system with H₂. Stir the reaction under H₂ atmosphere at room temperature overnight. TLC (DCM:MeOH=5:1) shows the reaction is complete. Filter off the solid, concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to give a crude residue. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, MeOH:DCM=1:10) affords the product (300 mg, 57%). MS: (M+1) 274.2.

Step 3: Use the same procedure used for D1 to get the product: MS: (M+1): 394.2.

Step 1: Synthesis of 1,1-diphenyl-N-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridyl]methanimine

Add 3-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (600 mg, 2.67 mmol), benzophenone imine (701 mg, 4.0 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (2.17 g, 6.68 mmol), BINAP (25 mg, 0.040 mmol), Pd₂(dba)₃ (24 mg, 0.027 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (10 mL), stir at 110° C. for 16 hrs. Cool to room temperature, add water (100 mL), extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3), wash the combined organic layers with brine, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=6:94) affords the target compound (850 mg, 98%).

Step 2: Synthesis of 5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-amine

Dissolve the imine obtained in Step 1 (850 mg, 2.6 mmol) in THF (10 mL), add water (2 mL), 1N HCl solution (5 mL), stir the reaction at room temperature for 2 hrs. After the reaction, extract with EtOAc, wash the organic layer with saturated NaHCO₃ solution and brine sequentially, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, and concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the target compound (380 mg, 90%).

Step 3: Synthesis of phenyl N-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridyl]carbamate

Dissolve the amine obtained in Step 2 (380 mg, 2.35 mmol), pyridine (371 mg, 4.7 mmol) in DCM (8 mL), cool to 0° C. in ice bath. Add slowly phenyl chloroformate (403 mg, 2.35 mmol). After addition, stir the reaction at 0-5° C. for 2 hrs. Pour the mixture into water (50 mL), adjust pH to neutral with 1M HCl solution, extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3). Combine the organic layers; wash with brine (100 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, and concentrate under reduced pressure to get the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=15:85) affords the target compound (390 mg, 59%).

Step 1: Synthesis of 6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidin-4-amine

Add 6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidin-4-ol (1.5 g, 9.15 mmol) and oxalyl chloride (2.3 mL, 22.9 mmol) to EtOAc (15 mL), then add 5 drops of DMF. Heat the mixture to reflux for 2 hrs. After reaction, partition between EtOAc and brine, separate the organic layer; dry the organic layer over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Transfer the organic solution to a sealed tube, add a solution of NH₃ in methanol (7M, 10 mL), seal the tube, heat at 70° C. for 15 hrs. Cool to room temperature; concentrate under reduced pressure to get the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=2:1) affords the target compound (920 mg, 61.3%).

Step 2: Synthesis of phenyl N-[6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidin-4-yl]carbamate

Add the amine obtained in Step 1 (550 mg, 3.37 mmol), Et₃N (680 mg, 6.74 mmol) to THF (10 mL), cool to 0° C. on ice bath. Add slowly a solution of phenyl chloroformate (789 mg, 5.06 mmol) in THF. After addition, stir the reaction on ice bath for 20 hrs. Remove the volatiles under reduced pressure. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) affords the target compound (160 mg, 17%). MS: (M+1): 284.1.

Data on intermediates D32-37 are summarized in Table D7.

TABLE D7 Intermediates D31-D37 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ D32

NA D33

415.1 D34

394.2 D35

394.2 D36

283.1 D37

284.1

Step 1: Synthesis of 4-[3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]morpholine

Dissolve 1-bromo-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (270 mg, 1 mmol) and DIEA (258 mg, 2 mmol) in DMF (5 mL), add morpholine (174 mg, 2 mmol). Stir the reaction at 120° C. overnight. Cool to room temperature; remove the volatiles under reduced pressure to give a crude residue. Purification of the residue by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:5) affords the product (138 mg, 50%).

Step 2: Synthesis of 4-[3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]morpholin-3-one

Dissolve the nitro compound obtained in Step 1 (276 mg, 1 mmol) and Bu₃BnNCl (1.67 g, 6 mmol) in DCM (20 mL). Add KMnO₄ portionwise (948 mg, 6 mmol). Stir the mixture at 70° C. overnight. Cool to room temperature; remove the volatiles under reduced pressure to give a residue. Purification of the residue by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:5) affords the product (64 mg, 22%).

Step 3: Synthesis of 4-[3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]morpholin-3-one

Dissolve the nitro compound obtained in Stet, 2 (290 mg, 1 mmol) in methanol (5 mL), add Pd/C (10%, 29 mg), flush with H₂, and then stir at room temperature under 1 atm H₂ atmosphere for 12 hrs. After the reaction, remove the H₂, filter off the solid, concentrate the filtrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) affords the product (221 mg, 85%). MS: (M+1): 261.

Step 4: Synthesis of phenyl N-[3-(3-oxomorpholin-4-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamate

Dissolve the amine obtained in Step 3 (260 mg, 1 mmol) and pyridine (79 mg, 1 mmol) in DCM (2 mL), cool to 0° C. Add phenyl chloroformate (156 mg, 1 mmol), then stir at room temperature for 2 hrs. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:5) affords the product (300 mg, 79%). MS: (M+1): 381.1.

Step 1: Synthesis of 1-[6-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]-4-methyl-piperazine

Dissolve 2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (215 mg, 1 mmol) and DIEA (129 mg, 1 mmol) in DMF (2 mL), add 1-methyl piperazine (100 mg, 1 mmol). Stir the reaction at 120° C. overnight. Cool to room temperature; concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, MeOH:DCM=1:10) affords the product (253 mg, 91%). MS: (M+1): 280.

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]-1,1-diphenyl-methanimine

Dissolve the compound obtained in Step 1 (279 mg, 1 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (4 mL), add benzophenone imine (181 mg, 1 mmol), DIEA (181 mg, 1 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (650 mg, 2 mmol), Pd₂(dba)₃ (18 mg, 0.02 mmol) and BINAP (18 mg, 0.03 mmol). Stir the reaction at 100° C. overnight. Cool to room temperature; filter off the solid, concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to give a crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, MeOH:DCM=1;10) affords the product (200 mg, 91%). MS: (M+1): 425.

Step 3: Synthesis of 6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-amine

Suspend the imine obtained in Step 2 (424 mg, 1 mmol) in methanol and water (1:1, 2 mL), add aqueous HCl (1N, 2 mL), stir the reaction at room temperature for 1 hr. After the reaction, extract with EtOAc, discard the organic layer. Adjust the aqueous layer with NaOH solution to pH-10, extract with EtOAc, wash the organic layer with water, brine sequentially, and dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to get the product (200 mg, 77%). MS: (M+1): 261.

Step 4: Synthesis of phenyl N-[6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl]carbamate

Dissolve the amine obtained in Step 3 (260 mg, 1 mmol) and pyridine (79 mg, 1 mmol) in DCM (2 mL), cool to 0° C. and add dropwise phenyl chloroformate (156 mg, 1 mmol). After addition, stir the reaction at room temperature for 2 hrs. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give a crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the product (300 mg, 79%). MS: (M+1): 381.

Intermediates D38-D41 can be synthesized with similar method (Table D8).

TABLE D8 Intermediates D38-D41 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ D38

381.1 D39

381 D40

395.1 D41

368.1

Step 1: Synthesis of phenyl N-[3-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]carbamate

Add 3-(trifluoromethoxy)aniline (1.0 g, 5.65 mmol), pyridine (0.89 g, 11.3 mmol) to DCM (20 mL) and cool to 0° C. Add dropwise phenyl chloroformate (1.15 g, 7.34 mmol). After addition, stir for 1 hr. TLC (PE:EtOAc=3:1) shows the reaction is complete. Add water to the mixture, extract with DCM (10 mL×3), combine the organic layer, wash with 1N HCl solution, brine sequentially, and dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to get the product (1.50 g, 89%).

Intermediates D42-D46 can be synthesized with similar method (Table D9)

TABLE D9 Intermediates D42-D46 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ D42

298.1 D43

316.1 D44

NA D45

332.1 D46

NA

Step 1: Synthesis of 2-chloro-4-(1,1-difluoroethyl)pyridine

Mix 1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)ethanone (2 g, 12.90 mmol), DCM (2 mL) and bis-(2-methoxyethyl)aminosulfur trifluoride (BAST, 11.7 g, 51.6 mmol) in an unsealed tube, add 1 drop of methanol. Seal the tube and heat at 60° C. for 15 hrs. Cool to room temperature, add DCM to dilute the mixture, basicify with NaOH solution, pour into water (100 mL), extract with DCM (100 mL×2), combine the organic layers, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to get a crude residue. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) affords the target compound (1.5 g, 65.7%).

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[4-(1,1-difluoroethyl)-2-pyridyl]-1,1-diphenyl-methanimine

Add the compound obtained in Step 1 (1.21 g, 6.81 mmol), benzophenone imine (1.83 g, 10.22 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (4.43 g, 13.6 mmol) to 1,4-dioxane (15 mL), then under N₂, add BINAP (635 mg, 1.02 mmol), Pd₂(dba)₃ (623 mg, 0.68 mmol), stir the reaction at 120° C. under N₂ atmosphere for 15 hrs. Cool to room temperature; filter off the solid, concentrate the filtrate under reduced pressure to give a crude residue. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) affords the target compound (1.68 g, 76.3%). MS: (M+1): 323.2.

Step 3: Synthesis of 4-(1,1-difluoroethyl)pyridin-2-amine

Dissolve the imine obtained in Step 2 (1.68 g, 5.22 mmol) in THF (10 mL), add 1M HCl solution (10 mL), stir the reaction at room temperature for 1 hr. Use saturated NaHCO₃ solution to adjust pH>7. Extract with EtOAc (50 mL×2), combine the organic layers, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, concentrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) affords the target compound (624 mg, 75.7%). MS: (M+1): 159.1.

Step 4: Synthesis of phenyl N-[4-(1,1-difluoroethyl)-2-pyridyl]carbamate

Add the amine obtained in Step 3 (624 mg, 3.95 mmol), pyridine (780 mg, 9.85 mmol) in DCM (15 mL), cool to 0° C. on ice bath. Add slowly a solution of phenyl chloroformate (678 mg, 4.34 mmol) in DCM. After addition, stir on ice bath for 1 hr. Concentrate the mixture to get a crude residue. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) affords the target compound (780 mg, 71%). MS: (M+1): 279.1.

Step 1: 1-(3-fluoro-5-nitro-phenyl)ethanone

Mix 1-fluoro-3-iodo-5-nitro-benzene (1 g, 3.75 mmol), tributyl(1-ethoxyvinyl)stannane (1.5 g, 4.15 mmol) and Pd(dppf)Cl₂ (78 mg, 0.1 mmol) in toluene (5 mL) under N₂. Stir at 100° C. under N₂ atmosphere for 3 hrs. Cool to room temperature, add 1N HCl solution (5 mL) and stir for 20 min. Load directly onto silica gel column and purify by chromatography (EtOAc:PE=3:7) to give the title compound (660 mg, 96%).

Step 2: Synthesis of 1-(1,1-difluoroethyl)-3-fluoro-5-nitro-benzene

In an unsealed tube, add the compound obtained in Step 1 (660 mg, 3.6 mmol), bis-(2-methoxyethyl)aminosulfur trifluoride (BAST, 3.2 g, 14.5 mmol) and DCM (8 mL), seal the tube, heat at 60° C. with stirring overnight. Cool the reaction mixture, purify by chromatography (silica gel, 100% PE) to give the title compound (500 mg, 67.6%).

Step 3: Synthesis of 3-(1,1-difluoroethyl)-5-fluoro-aniline

Add the nitro compound obtained in Step 2 (500 mg, 2.44 mmol) and SnCl₂.2H₂O (2.6 g, 11.5 mmol) in ethanol (20 mL), heat to reflux for 4 hrs. TLC (100% PE) shows the reaction is complete. Cool to room temperature, basicify to pH-10-12 with NaOH solution to get a suspension. Filter off the white solid, partition the filtrate between DCM and water. Collect the organic layer, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, concentrate to get the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=70:30) affords the title compound (350 mg, 82%). MS: (M+1): 176.

Step 4: Synthesis of phenyl N-[3-(1,1-difluoroethyl)-5-fluoro-phenyl]carbamate

Dissolve the amine obtained in Step 3 (350 mg, 2.0 mmol) in DCM (8 mL), add pyridine (395 mg, 5 mmol), cool to 0-5° C. on ice bath. Add dropwise a solution of phenyl chloroformate (406.7 mg, 2.6 mmol) in DCM (1 mL). Stir the reaction at room temperature for 1.5 hrs. Quench the reaction with water (5 mL), collect the organic layer, wash the organic layer with 1N HCl solution, then saturated NaHCO₃ solution and brine sequentially. Dry the organic layer over anhydrous Na₂SO₄; concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (400 mg, 80% pure) which is used without further purification. MS: (M+1): 296.

Step 1: Synthesis of 1-(1,1-difluoroethyl)-3-nitro-benzene

Dissolve 1-(3-nitrophenyl)ethanone (1 g, 6.1 mmol) in DCM (10 mL) in an unsealed tube, add dropwise bis-(2-methoxyethyl)aminosulfur trifluoride (BAST, 5.4 g, 24.2 mmol) and one drop of methanol, seal the tube and heat at 60° C. for 16 hrs. Cool to room temperature, pour the mixture to ice water (50 mL), neutralize with saturated NaHCO₃ solution. Extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3), combine the organic layers; wash with brine (100 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, concentrate to give a crude residue. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=99:1) affords the target compound (970 mg, 85%).

Step 2: Synthesis of 3-(1,1-difluoroethyl)aniline

Dissolve the nitro compound obtained in Step 1 (870 mg, 4.8 mmol) in ethanol (10 mL), add iron powder (1.3 g, 23.3 mmol), concentrated aqueous HCl (37%, 2.7 mL), stir the reaction at room temperature for 2 hrs. After the reaction, carefully neutralize the mixture with NaOH solution. Filter off the solid, pour the filtrate to ice water (50 mL), extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3), combine the organic layers, wash with brine (100 mL) and dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to get the crude product (760 mg) which is used without further purification.

Step 3: Synthesis of phenyl N-[3-(1,1-difluoroethyl)phenyl]carbamate

Dissolve the amine obtained in Step 2 (760 mg, 4.8 mmol) and pyridine (765 mg, 9.7 mmol) in DCM (15 mL) and cool to 0-5° C. on ice bath. Add dropwise phenyl chloroformate (831 mg, 5.3 mmol). After addition, stir the mixture at 0-5° C. for 2 hrs. Pour the mixture to water (50 mL), adjust pH to neutral with 1M HCl solution. Extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3), combine the organic layers and wash with brine (100 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (1.15 g) which is used without further purification.

Intermediates D50-D52 can be synthesized with similar method (Table D10).

TABLE D10 Intermediates D47-D52 Number Starting Material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ D47

279.1 D48

296.2 D49

278.1 D50

296.1 D51

312.1 D52

296.1

Step 1: Synthesis of phenyl N-(3-chloro-4-cyano-phenyl)carbamate

Dissolve 4-amino-2-chloro-benzonitrile (500 mg, 3.3 mmol) and pyridine (518 mg, 6.6 mmol) in THF (5 mL), cool to 0° C. and add slowly phenyl chloroformate (616 mg, 3.9 mmol). After addition, stir the reaction at room temperature for 2 hrs. TLC (EtOAc:PE=1:3) shows the reaction is complete. Add water, extract with DCM, separate the organic layer. Wash the organic layer with 1M HCl solution, brine sequentially, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, and concentrate under reduced pressure to give the target compound (820 mg, 91.7%). MS: (M+1): 273.

Intermediate D54 can be synthesized with similar method (Table D11).

Step 1: Synthesis of 3-cyclopropyl-4-fluoro-aniline

Mix 3-bromo-4-fluoro-aniline (415 mg, 2.18 mmol), cyclopropylboronic acid (244 mg, 2.84 mmol), K₃PO₄ (1.62 g, 7.64 mmol), triphenylphosphine (61 mg, 0.22 mmol), Pd(OAc)₂ (25 mg, 0.11 mmol), toluene (12 mL) and water (1 mL) under N₂, stir at 100° C. for 16 hrs. Cool the reaction to 25° C., add water (10 mL), extract with EtOAc (10 mL×2). Combine the organic layers; wash with brine (15 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, PE:EtOAc=2:1) affords the target compound (200 mg, 61%).

Step 2: Synthesis of phenyl N-(3-cyclopropyl-4-fluoro-phenyl)carbamate

Add 3-cyclopropyl-4-fluoro-aniline (600 mg, 3.97 mmol), phenyl chloroformate (620 mg, 3.97 mmol) and pyridine (314 mg, 3.97 mmol) in DCM (30 mL), stir at room temperature (25° C.) for 4 hrs. After the reaction is complete, add water (15 mL), extract with EtOAc (15 mL×2), combine the organic layers, wash with 1M HCl solution (15 mL) and brine (15 mL) sequentially, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give a crude product (350 mg) which is used directly without further purification.

Step 1: Synthesis of 3-(4-nitrophenoxy)propanoic acid

Dissolve p-nitrophenol (11 g, 100 mmol), 3-chloropropanoic acid (14 g, 100 mmol) in a mixture of ethanol (100 mL) and 20% aqueous KOH solution (100 mL). Heat to reflux for 2 hrs, then adjust pH=1-3, extract with EtOAc (300 mL×3), combine the organic layers and wash with brine (300 mL×2), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:4) affords the title compound (7.5 g, 14.9%). MS: (M+1): 212.1.

Step 2: Synthesis of 6-nitrochroman-4-one

Mix 3-(4-nitrophenoxy)propanoic acid (6.5 g, 30 mmol) and concentrated H₂SO₄ (30 mL). Once dissolved, add P₂O₅, stir at 65° C. for 3 hrs. Cool to room temperature, pour slowly the reaction mixture to ice water (50 mL), stir for 15 min, and extract with EtOAc (100 mL×3). Combine the organic layers, wash with brine (100 mL×2), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, concentrate to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (4.6 g, 77.8%). MS: (M−1): 192.2.

Step 3: Synthesis of 4,4-difluoro-6-nitro-chromane

Add 6-nitrochroman-4-one (3 g, 15.7 mmol), bis-(2-methoxyethyl)aminosulfur trifluoride (Deoxo-Fluor®, BAST, 14 g, 62.8 mmol) and dry DCM (10 mL) in tube, seal the tube and heat at 50° C. for 12 hrs. Cool to room temperature, add dropwise methanol (5 mL), pour the mixture to ice water (50 mL), extract with DCM (100 mL×2), combine the organic layers, wash with brine (100 mL×2), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:9) affords the title compound (2.6 g, 77.2%).

Step 4: Synthesis of 4,4-difluorochroman-6-amine

Dissolve 4,4-difluoro-6-nitro-chromane (2.5 g, 11.6 mmol) in methanol (100 mL), add zinc powder (2.5 g, 34.8 mmol), then add dropwise a 15.5% aqueous solution of ammonium chloride (40 mL, 139 mmol), stir at room temperature for 5 hrs. Filter off the solid, add water (50 mL) to the filtrate, extract with EtOAc (50 mL×2). Combine the organic layers, wash with brine (50 mL×2), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to get a crude residue. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:3) affords the title compound (1.8 g, 83.7%). MS: (M+1): 186.2.

Data on Intermediates D53-56 are summarized in Table D11:

TABLE D11 Intermediates D53-D56 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ D53

273.1 D54

266.1 D55

272.2 D56

306.2

Intermediates D57-62 can be synthesized with similar method (Table D12)

TABLE D12 Intermediates D57-D62 Number Starting material Intermediate MS [M + 1]⁺ D57

316.1 D58

359.1 D59

NA D60

395.2 D61

NA D62

NA

EXAMPLES Example 1 Synthesis of N-[6-[4-[[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoylamino]-3-methyl-phenoxy]pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve N-[6-(4-amino-3-methyl-phenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide (1.8 g, 6.3 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (50 mL) and dichloromethane (50 mL), add slowly 4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl isocynate (1.4 g, 6.3 mmol), stir the reaction at room temperature for 15 hrs. Collect the white solid formed by filtration (2.0 g), recover from the mother liquor to give another 1.0 g (total 3.0 g, 93.7% yield). MS: (M+1): 506.2.

When the crude product contains a small amount of impurities, the product may be purified by recrystallization in ethanol/tetrahydrofuran as the following: add the crude product (8.2 g) to ethanol (120 mL) in a 250 mL flask, heat to reflux, add slowly tetrahydrofuran (about 50 mL) to dissolve the solid. Then cool slowly, filter and collect the white solid to give the pure product (6.2 g, 75.6% recovery yield).

Example 2 Synthesis of N-[6-[3-[[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoyl-amino]-4-fluoro-phenoxy]pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve N-[6-(3-amino-4-fluoro-phenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide (400 mg, 1.4 mmol) in THF (4 mL) and DCM (10 mL), add 4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl isocynate (1.4 g, 6.3 mmol). Stir the reaction at room temperature overnight. Filter and collect the solid to get the title compound (545 mg, 77%). MS: (M+1): 510.2.

Examples 1-31 are prepared with similar method (Table 1).

TABLE 1 Examples 1-31 Example Number Structure MS [M + 1]⁺ Example 1

506.2 Example 2

510.2 Example 3

524.2 Example 4

502.3 Example 5

510.2 Example 6

517.2 Example 7

492.2 Example 8

510.1 Example 9

510.2 Example 10

506.2 Example 11

507.2 Example 12

492.2 Example 13

510.2 Example 14

506.2 Example 15

493.2 Example 16

507.2 Example 17

506.2 Example 18

506.2 Example 19

526.1 Example 20

492.1 Example 21

492.1 Example 22

509.2 Example 23

505.2 Example 24

509.1 Example 25

510.1 Example 26

516.2 Example 27

508.2 Example 28

523.3 Example 29

509.2 Example 30

505.2 Example 31

505.3

Example 32 Synthesis of N-[6-[4-[[3-(isopropylamino)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoylamino]-3-methyl-phenoxy]pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve phenyl N-[4-[6-(cyclopropanecarbonylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]oxy-2-methyl-phenyl]carbamate (343 mg, 1.57 mmol), N1-isopropyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzene-1,3-diamine (700 mg, 1.73 mmol) and DIEA (608 mg, 4.72 mmol) in THF (4 mL), heat the reaction at 80° C. for 3 hrs. After the reaction is complete, remove the volatiles under reduced pressure. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (450 mg, 83%). MS: (M+1): 529.3.

Examples 33-66 are prepared with similar method (Table 2).

TABLE 2 Examples 32-66 Example Number Structure MS [M + 1]⁺ Example 32

529.3 Example 33

472.3 Example 34

491.3 Example 35

489.3 Example 36

572.3 Example 37

553.2 Example 38

574.3 Example 39

561.2 Example 40

600.3 Example 41

574.2 Example 42

558.2 Example 43

562.2 Example 44

532.2 Example 45

601.3 Example 46

576.3 Example 47

588.3 Example 48

587.3 Example 49

530.3 Example 50

618.3 Example 51

574.3 Example 52

558.2 Example 53

605.3 Example 54

601.3 Example 55

587.3 Example 56

472.3 Example 57

447.2 Example 58

465.2 Example 59

464.3 Example 60

598.3 Example 61

475.2 Example 62

500.2 Example 63

525.1 Example 64

569.2 Example 65

454.3 Example 66

484.3

Example 67 Synthesis of N-[4-[2-fluoro-4-[[3-(1-piperazin-1-ylethyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoylamino]phenoxy]-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Step 1: Synthesis of tert-butyl 4-[1-[3-[[4-[[2-(cyclopropanecarbonylamino)-4-pyridyl]oxy]-3-fluoro-phenyl]carbamoyl amino]-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethyl]piperazine-1-carboxylate

Add phenyl N-[4-[[2-(cyclopropanecarbonylamino)-4-pyridyl]oxy]-3-fluoro-phenyl]carbamate (220 mg, 0.53 mmol), tert-butyl 4-[1-[3-amino-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-ethyl]piperazine-1carboxylate (165 mg, 0.442 mmol) and DIEA (120 mg, 0.88 mmol) in THF (10 mL), stir the reaction under N₂ at 80° C. for 12 hrs. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the title compound (230 mg, 75.6%).

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[4-[2-fluoro-4-[[3-(1-piperazin-1-ylethyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoylamino]phenoxy]-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve the compound obtained in Step 1 (230 mg, 0.33 mmol) in DCM (15 mL), add trifluoroacetic acid (400 mg), stir at room temperature for 2 hrs. Remove the volatiles, partition the residue in EtOAc and saturated NaHCO₃ solution, and separate the organic layer, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=3:1) affords the title compound (173 mg, 88.3%). MS: (M+1): 588.

Examples 68-69 are prepared with similar method (Table 3).

TABLE 3 Examples 67-69 Example number Structure MS [M + 1]⁺ Example 67

588 Example 68

518.2 Example 69

573.3

Example 70 Synthesis of N-[6-[4-[[4-fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoylamino]-3-methyl-phenoxy]pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Add N-[6-(4-amino-3-methyl-phenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl]cyclopropanecarboxamide (99 mg, 0.35 mmol), phenyl N-[4-fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamate (100 mg, 0.35 mmol) and DIEA (135 mg, 1.05 mmol) in THF (4 mL), stir at 80° C. for 2 hrs, Remove the volatiles, suspend the residue in DCM, filter and collect the solid to get the target compound (132 mg, 77%). MS: (M+1): 490.3.

Examples 71-236 are prepared with similar method (Table 4)

TABLE 4 Examples 70-236 Example MS number Structure [M + 1]⁺ Example 70

490.3 Example 71

486.3 Example 72

486.3 Example 73

569.4 Example 74

472.3 Example 75

506.2 Example 76

584.4 Example 77

541.3 Example 78

584.4 Example 79

488.3 Example 80

506.2 Example 81

506.3 Example 82

522.2 Example 83

486.3 Example 84

468.3 Example 85

502.3 Example 86

463.2 Example 87

557.3 Example 88

510.2 Example 89

510.2 Example 90

510.2 Example 91

520.2 Example 92

490.3 Example 93

502.2 Example 94

472 .3 Example 95

488.3 Example 96

502.3 Example 97

494.2 Example 98

494.2 Example 99

506.2 Example 100

476.2 Example 101

476.2 Example 102

476.2 Example 103

472.3 Example 104

490.3 Example 105

506.2 Example 106

490.3 Example 107

494.2 Example 108

476.2 Example 109

490.2 Example 110

506.2 Example 111

490.3 Example 112

472.3 Example 113

488.2 Example 114

522.2 Example 115

486.2 Example 116

486.3 Example 117

502.2 Example 118

486.3 Example 119

476.2 Example 120

458.2 Example 121

474.2 Example 122

488.2 Example 123

489.3 Example 124

490.2 Example 125

502.2 Example 126

530.3 Example 127

490.2 Example 128

486.2 Example 129

559.3 Example 130

536.2 Example 131

570.3 Example 132

591.2 Example 133

483.2 Example 134

555.3 Example 135

458.2 Example 136

536.2 Example 137

491.2 Example 138

475.2 Example 139

482.2 Example 140

471.2 Example 141

475.3 Example 142

491.2 Example 143

554.3 Example 144

457.2 Example 145

535.2 Example 146

473.3 Example 147

454.3 Example 148

471.3 Example 149

487.2 Example 150

471.2 Example 151

481.3 Example 152

482.3 Example 153

493.2 Example 154

489.2 Example 155

493.1 Example 156

493.3 Example 157

509.2 Example 158

476.2 Example 159

552.2 Example 160

509.2 Example 161

587.3 Example 162

574.3 Example 163

544.2 Example 164

588.3 Example 165

568.2 Example 166

608.2 Example 167

587.3 Example 168

587.3 Example 169

476.2 Example 170

477.2 Example 171

574.2 Example 172

574.3 Example 173

588.3 Example 174

561.2 Example 175

491.2 Example 176

509.2 Example 177

509.2 Example 178

491.2 Example 179

489.3 Example 180

471.2 Example 181

489.3 Example 182

505.3 Example 183

489.3 Example 184

459.1 Example 185

509.2 Example 186

552.2 Example 187

532.2 Example 188

588.3 Example 189

560.3 Example 190

500.2 Example 191

489.3 Example 192

489.3 Example 193

471.3 Example 194

487.3 Example 195

505.3 Example 196

505.3 Example 197

485.2 Example 198

485.3 Example 199

501.3 Example 200

485.3 Example 201

476.1 Example 202

490.2 Example 203

488.3 Example 204

474.3 Example 205

493.2 Example 206

500.2 Example 207

489.2 Example 208

493.3 Example 209

493.2 Example 210

509.2 Example 211

475.2 Example 212

566.2 Example 213

476.2 Example 214

509.3 Example 215

509.2 Example 216

472.3 Example 217

471.2 Example 218

489.3 Example 219

505.2 Example 220

489.2 Example 221

466.2 Example 222

465.2 Example 223

489.3 Example 224

489.3 Example 225

489.3 Example 226

471.3 Example 227

485.3 Example 228

501.3 Example 229

485.3 Example 230

489.3 Example 231

471.3 Example 232

487.2 Example 233

485.2 Example 234

485.3 Example 235

501.3 Example 236

485.3

Example 237 Synthesis of N-[4-[4-[[3-(azetidin-3-ylmethoxy)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoylamino]phenoxy]-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Step 1: Synthesis of tert-butyl 3-[[3-[[4-[[2-(cyclopropanecarbonylamino)-4-pyridyl]oxy]phenyl]carbamoylamino]-5-(t rifluoromethyl)phenoxy]methyl]azetidine-1-carboxylate

Dissolve N-[4-(4-aminophenoxy)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide (200 mg, 0.74 mmol) and tert-butyl 3-[[3-(phenoxycarbonylamino)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]methyl]-azetidine-1-carboxylate (415 mg, 0.89 mmol) in THF (10 mL), add DIEA (200 mg, 1.48 mmol), stir under N₂ at 70° C. for 12 hrs. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=2:1) affords the title compound (250 mg, 52.4%). MS: (M+1): 642.3.

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[4-[4-[[3-(azetidin-3-ylmethoxy)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoylamino]phenoxy]-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve the compound obtained in last step (250 mg, 0.39 mmol) in DCM (15 mL), add trifluoroacetic acid (6 mL), stir at room temperature for 2 hrs. Remove the volatiles, partition between EtOAc and saturated NaHCO₃ solution. Separate the organic layer, dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=3:1) affords the title compound (150 mg, 71%). MS: (M+1): 542.1.

Examples 238-240 are prepared with the above method (Table 5).

TABLE 5 Examples 237-240 Example MS number Structure [M + 1]⁺ Example 237

542.1 Example 238

541.2 Example 239

490.2 Example 240

587.3

Example 241 Synthesis of N-[4-[4-[[3-(1-methylazetidin-3-yl)oxy-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoylamino]phenoxy]-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Step 1: Synthesis of tert-butyl 3-[3-[[4-[[2-(cyclopropanecarbonylamino)-4-pyridyl]oxy]phenyl]carbamoylamino]-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]azetidine-1-carboxylate

Dissolve N-[4-(4-aminophenoxy)-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide (186 mg, 0.69 mmol), tert-butyl 3-[3-(phenoxycarbonylamino)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]azetidine-1-carboxylate (312 mg, 0.69 mmol) and DMAP (17 mg, 0.14 mmol) in DMF (10 mL), stir at 100° C. for 16 hrs. Cool the reaction, pour the mixture to water (50 mL), adjust pH=7 with saturated NaHCO₃ solution, extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3). Combine the organic layers, wash with brine (100 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc:PE=1:1) affords the target compound (300 mg, 69%). MS: (M+1): 628.3.

Step 2: Synthesis of N-[4-[4-[[3-(azetidin-3-yloxy)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoylamino]phenoxy]-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve tert-butyl 3-[3-[[4-[[2-(cyclopropanecarbonylamino)-4-pyridyl]oxy]phenyl]-carbamoylamino]-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]azetidine-1-carboxylate (300 mg, 0.48 mmol) in DCM (4 mL), add slowly trifluoroacetic acid (2 mL), stir the reaction at room temperature for 2 hrs. After reaction, pour the mixture to water (50 mL), adjust pH=7 with saturated NaHCO₃ solution, extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3). Combine the organic layers, wash with brine (100 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product (240 mg) which is used without further purification. MS: (M+1): 528.2.

Step 3: Synthesis of N-[4-[4-[[3-(1-methylazetidin-3-yl)oxy-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoylamino]phenoxy]-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide

Dissolve N-[4-[4-[[3-(azetidin-3-yloxy)-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoylamino]-phenoxy]-2-pyridyl]cyclopropanecarboxamide (210 mg, 0.4 mmol) in methanol (10 mL), add 35% aqueous formaldehyde solution (205 mg, 2.39 mmol), sitr for 1.5 hrs. Add Na(CN)BH₃ (150 mg, 2.39 mmol) and stir at room temperature for 3 hrs. After reaction, pour the reaction mixture to water (50 mL), adjust pH=7 with saturated NaHCO₃ solution, extract with EtOAc (15 mL×3), combine the organic layers, wash with brine (100 mL), dry over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Concentrate under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Purification by chromatography (silica gel, DCM:MeOH=20:1) affords the target compound (16 mg, 7%). MS: (M+1): 542.3.

Example 242 is prepared with similar method (Table 7)

TABLE 6 Examples 241-242 Example MS number Structure [M + 1]⁺ Example 241

542.3 Example 242

615.3

EXAMPLES ON BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES Biological Activity Example 1 Inhibitory Activity of Compounds at KDR Kinase

-   -   [Experimental method]: Use Lance@Ultra Ulight™-TK assay kit from         PerKinElmer to evaluate the inhibitory activity of compounds at         KDR kinase.     -   [Instrument]: PerKinElmer's ENVISION plate reader     -   [Materials]: Optiplate-384 well plate (PerKinElmer), kinase         buffer (50 mM Hepes pH7.5, 0.25 mM EGTA, 2 mM DTT, 0.01% Tween         20, 10 mM Mg²⁺, 0.5 mM Mn²⁺), KDR kinase (790-1356 AA, Crown         Bioscience), KDR kinase substrate (PerKinElmer catalogue #         TRF0127-M), Lance@Eu-W1024-anti-phosphotyrosine (PT66)         (PerKinElmer, catalogue #AD0068), ATP (Invitrogen), DMSO (Sigma,         catalogue #34869), purified water (Millipore, type: Milli-Q).     -   [Study conditions]: Mix KDR (final concentration: 20 nM) and         compound (final DMSO: 0.5%), pre-incubate for 20 min at 30° C.;         then add ATP (final concentration: 90 μM) and the substrate         (final concentration 50 μM). React for 2 hrs at 30° C. After the         reaction, add antibody and reaction for 60 min at 30° C. Read         the plate (615 nm, 665 nm), calculate the ratio of the value at         665 nm vs 615 nm and analyze the data.     -   [Samples]: Compounds in the examples and Sorafenib (positive         control)     -   [Data Analysis]: Use CBIS data analysis software to calculate         IC₅₀ values

Biological Activity Example 2 Inhibitory Activity of Compounds at B-Raf Kinase

-   -   [Experimental method]: Use ADP-GLO™ assay kit from Promega to         evaluate the inhibitory activity of compounds at B-Raf     -   [Instrument]: PerKinElmer's ENVISION plate reader     -   [Material]: Optiplate-384 well plate (PerKinElmer), kinase         buffer (50 mM Hepes pH7.5, 1 mM EGTA, 2 mM DTT, 10 mM Mg²⁺,         0.05% BSA), B-Raf kinase (Millipore, catalogue #14-530-K),         GST-MEK1 substrate (Carna, catalogue #07-141-10), Super pure ATP         (Promega), ADP-GLO™ assay kit (Promega, catalogue # V9102), DMSO         (Sigma, catalogue #34869), purified water (Millipore, type:         Milli-Q).     -   [Study conditions]: Mix B-Raf kinase (final concentration: 5 nM)         and compound (DMSO final concentration: 0.25%) and preincubate         at 30° C. for 20 min, then add ATP (final concentration: 6 μM)         and reaction substrate (final concentration: 30 nM), React for 2         hrs at 30° C. After reaction, add ADP-GLO™ reagent, react for 40         min at room temperature, then add ADP-GLO™ detecting agent,         react for 30 min at room temperature. After that, use ENVSION to         measure the fluorescence.     -   [Samples]: Compounds in the examples and Sorafenib (positive         control)     -   [Data analysis]: Use CBIS data analysis software to calculate         IC₅₀ values

Biological Activity Example 3 Inhibitory Activity of Compounds at pERK

-   -   [Experimental method]: Use Acumen (TPP) to measure In Cell         Western Blot results     -   [Instrument]: Acumen (TPP), Centrifuge (Thermo Scientific,         Sorvall ST16R)     -   [Material]: MDA-MB-231 cells (ATCC), 96 well plate (BD,         #356640), DMEM medium (Gibco, #11965-092), PBS (Invitrogen,         #10010023), fetal bovine serum (Gibco, #16000044), BSA (Sigma,         #A7030), DMSO (Sigma, #D2650); formaldehyde (Sinopharm),         methanol (Sinopharm), 1^(St) antibody (anti-pERK antibody, Cell         Signaling, #CST 4307s), 2^(nd) antibody (FITC Donkey anti-rabbit         IgG, Biolegend, #406403), Propidium Iodide (Invitrogen, #P3566),         purified water (Millipore, type: Milli-Q).     -   [Protocol]: Grow MDA-MB-231 cells in DMEM medium (contains 10%         FBS). When the cells reach 80% confluency, collect cells by         trypsinization and centrifugation at 800 rpm for 3 minutes.         Resuspend cells with appropriate volume of medium and count cell         numbers. Adjust cell concentration to 70000 cells/mL, and split         100 μL cell suspension per well into 96-well plates. Transfer         the plates into cell culture incubator (37° C., 5% CO₂) and         incubate cells overnight. Discard the medium, wash with PBS         once, Prepare compound serial dilutions in culture medium with         total 8 compound concentrations at 3-fold serial dilutions (the         final top concentration starts from 30 μM). Dispense 75 μL DMEM         medium (with 0.1% BSA) and 25 μL of each test compound dilution         into corresponding wells with DMSO at 0.3% final concentration.         Continue incubating cells in cell culture incubator for         additional 2 hrs at 37° C., 5% CO₂. Discard culture medium, and         wash cells once with PBS. Add 100 μL of 4% formaldehyde solution         to each well and fix for 20 min. Discard the formaldehyde, then         add 100 μL ice-cold 100% methanol at 4° C. for 20 min. Discard         methanol, wash with PBS three times. Add to each well 100 μL of         2% BSA solution, seal for 30 min at room temperature. Discard         the BSA solution, add to each well 50 μL of the 1^(st) antibody         solution (prepared with 2% BSA, 1:250 dilution), incubate at         4° C. overnight. Discard the 1^(St) antibody solution, wash with         PBS four times. Add to each well 50 pit the 2^(nd) antibody         solution (prepared with 1% BSA, 1:1000 dilution), incubate at         room temperature for 1 hr. Discard the 2^(nd) antibody solution,         wash with PBS four times, add to each well 100 μL PI solution         (1.5 μM), incubate at room temperature for 30 min. Use Acumen         (TPP) to measure the fluorescence.     -   [Samples]: Compounds in the examples and sorafenib (positive         control)     -   [Data Analysis]: Use CBIS data analysis software to calculate         IC₅₀ values

Biological Activity Example 4 Inhibitory Activity of Compounds to the Proliferation of PLC-PRF-5 Cells

-   -   [experimental Method]: Use PerKinElmer's ATPlite™ Luminescence         ATP Detection Assay System to evaluate the inhibitory activity         of compounds to the proliferation of PLC-PRF-5 cells.     -   [Instruments]: ENVISION plate reader (PerKinElmer) and         centrifuge (Thermo Scientific, Sorvall ST16R)     -   [material]: PLC-PRF-5 cells (ATCC), 96-well plate (Nunc,         #165305), DMEM medium (Gibco, #11965-092), PBS (Invitrogen,         #10010023), fetal bovine serum (Gibco, #16000044), DMSO (Sigma,         #D2650), ATPlite™ Luminescence ATP Detection Assay System         (PerkinElmer, #6016949), purified water (Millipore, type:         Milli-Q).     -   [Protocol]: Grow PLC-PRF-5 cells in DMEM supplemented with 10%         FBS. When the cells reach 80% confluency, collect cells by         trypsinization and centrifugation at 800 rpm for 3 min.         Resuspend cells with appropriate volume of medium and count cell         numbers. Adjust cell concentration to 50000 cells/mL, and split         160 μL cell suspension per well into 96-well plates. Transfer         the plates into cell culture incubator (37° C., 5% CO₂) and         incubate cells for 2 hrs. Prepare compound serial dilutions in         culture medium with total 8 compound concentrations at 3-fold         serial dilutions (the final top concentration starts from 30         μM). Dispense 40 μL of each test compound dilution into         corresponding wells with DMSO at 0.3% final concentration.         Continue incubating cells in cell culture incubator for         additional 96 hrs at 37° C., 5% CO₂. Discard culture medium, and         wash cells once with PBS. Add 50 μL cell lysis buffer per well         and shake plates for 5 min at room temperature to ensure         complete lysis of cells. Then add 50 μL of substrate solution         and shake plates for 1 min at room temperature. Allow the plates         to incubate at room temperature for 5 min, followed by recording         the luminescence signals using Envision, and subsequent data         analysis.     -   [Samples]: Compounds in the examples and Sorafenib (positive         control)     -   [Data analysis]: Use CBIS data analysis software to calculate         IC₅₀ values

In vitro activity summary for example 1-242 (IC₅₀, nM) MDA-M PLC-PRF-5 Example B-231 cell Number KDR B-Raf pERK proliferation Exe. 001 10.9 39 31 6900 Exe. 002 5.4 15.5 3400 Exe. 003 16.7 87 11500 Exe. 004 292 74 21900 Exe. 005 27 40.6 6000 Exe. 006 25 281 5380 Exe. 007 5.7 24.8 46 7240 Exe. 008 5.7 24.9 124 4550 Exe. 009 8.9 26 20.5 3650 Exe. 010 13.7 97 43.1 4350 Exe. 011 13.4 261 19500 Exe. 012 9.9 71 10300 Exe. 013 14.2 50 16100 Exe. 014 7 48.5 8700 Exe. 015 4.2 94 6500 Exe. 016 9.4 55 20100 Exe. 017 29.2 15.7 18.8 2820 Exe. 018 9.4 4.6 4040 Exe. 019 22.3 18.1 172 840 Exe. 020 5.8 19.7 290.6 1990 Exe. 021 7.5 24.7 10.2 600 Exe. 022 4.3 3.6 19.5 1710 Exe. 023 10.5 15 6.9 4170 Exe. 024 33.8 5.1 19.5 4240 Exe. 025 14.9 9.1 71.6 371 Exe. 026 18.2 39 900 Exe. 027 11.5 66.5 2390 Exe. 028 12.7 21 391 2490 Exe. 029 3.9 7.3 10.1 790 Exe. 030 12.4 18 23.2 2800 Exe. 031 14.5 25 33.8 1300 Exe. 032 26 115 20000 Exe. 033 5.6 5.0 35 Exe. 034 10.2 9.4 4.7 219 Exe. 035 7.8 8.9 9.3 259 Exe. 036 15.6 290 2400 Exe. 037 13.5 26 33.9 768 Exe. 038 8.2 5.3 23.5 130 Exe. 039 14.2 54.4 500 Exe. 040 15.2 134 640 Exe. 041 4.2 37.5 18.1 358 Exe. 042 11.5 94 3560 Exe. 043 18.1 30 604 Exe. 044 14.2 13 29.8 752 Exe. 045 15.4 40 108 Exe. 046 16.6 58.2 640 Exe. 047 6.2 73.6 53.3 682 Exe. 048 7.3 11.0 25 233 Exe. 049 9.9 51.3 642 Exe. 050 12.8 110 2230 Exe. 051 5.2 23.6 33.9 749 Exe. 052 15.5 13 22 360 Exe. 053 13 65.1 686 Exe. 054 15.3 97.6 340 Exe. 055 14.5 284 420 Exe. 056 17.5 65 39.7 110 Exe. 057 12.0 85 250 Exe. 058 13.7 116 30 43 Exe. 059 8.2 90 19.4 643 Exe. 060 34.3 324 1510 Exe. 061 3.73 6.3 26.3 211 Exe. 062 7.18 7.0 29.4 3050 Exe. 063 5.5 14.9 29.1 2330 Exe. 064 11.9 4.6 610 Exe. 065 6.5 25 46.5 162 Exe. 066 8.0 16 2500 Exe. 067 26.6 75.9 235 Exe. 068 15.7 8.4 325 Exe. 069 17.1 337 10500 Exe. 070 11.0 145 63.5 9300 Exe. 071 13.3 100 20500 Exe. 072 8.9 12 7000 Exe. 073 14 14 2970 Exe. 074 10.5 146 77.5 6070 Exe. 075 13.1 420 20000 Exe. 076 12.5 83 5600 Exe. 077 14.3 169 16500 Exe. 078 13.3 28 879 Exe. 079 14 80 6000 Exe. 080 8.1 29 3040 Exe. 081 13.3 104 16000 Exe. 082 6.8 36 22500 Exe. 083 14.3 609 20400 Exe. 084 12.2 122 5860 Exe. 085 10.7 45 19.3 11000 Exe. 086 8.3 226 19300 Exe. 087 12.9 36 5050 Exe. 088 11.4 106 2050 Exe. 089 15.2 19 6870 Exe. 090 12.2 42 2800 Exe. 091 12.8 53 7600 Exe. 092 192 57 17200 Exe. 093 200 244 17300 Exe. 094 200 163 19000 Exe. 095 434 82 19200 Exe. 096 624 28 21000 Exe. 097 62.8 137 9100 Exe. 098 105 752 8400 Exe. 099 41 37 15000 Exe. 100 9 300 2420 Exe. 101 12.5 682 2600 Exe. 102 15 294 936 Exe. 103 12.4 300 373 Exe. 104 10.2 252 100 Exe. 105 11.3 153 85.5 1900 Exe. 106 10.4 465 850 Exe. 107 13.4 31 20.2 324 Exe. 108 8.6 41 20 1610 Exe. 109 10.9 32 9.8 274 Exe. 110 7.3 24 13.4 1580 Exe. 111 7 41 2630 Exe. 112 14.5 85 2000 Exe. 113 8.1 54 781 Exe. 114 9.8 37 4600 Exe. 115 9.5 300 1310 Exe. 116 7.9 111 30.4 125 Exe. 117 12 27 2930 Exe. 118 7.4 293 55.3 706 Exe. 119 14.9 184 18800 Exe. 120 12 617 >30000 Exe. 121 11.5 252 >30000 Exe. 122 8.7 133 22000 Exe. 123 7.4 703 8380 Exe. 124 13.8 10.4 19.4 160 Exe. 125 8.7 8.6 4.7 1720 Exe. 126 30.2 61.4 24.3 2440 Exe. 127 11.8 7.2 11.6 642 Exe. 128 9.8 6.2 38.0 819 Exe. 129 14.2 105 2260 Exe. 130 4.6 29.7 725 4990 Exe. 131 6.1 12.5 >1000 10500 Exe. 132 10 39 341 5910 Exe. 133 9.1 25 23.6 1020 Exe. 134 7.8 33 199 Exe. 135 5.8 208 100 Exe. 136 6.6 29 46 470 Exe. 137 10.2 11.3 7.8 5960 Exe. 138 10.5 26 9.1 1510 Exe. 139 10 13 10.9 654 Exe. 140 10.0 10.6 230 Exe. 141 7.1 125 40.4 642 Exe. 142 10.4 39 13.9 642 Exe. 143 9.5 5.5 13.4 892 Exe. 144 11.4 30 6.0 403 Exe. 145 7.6 5.1 20.7 1670 Exe. 146 7.8 14 11.4 689 Exe. 147 11.1 15 23.8 1160 Exe. 148 6.2 16 7.7 240 Exe. 149 25.4 38 25.4 800 Exe. 150 11.5 20.4 737 Exe. 151 4.5 3.3 3.6 608 Exe. 152 7.1 72 33 390 Exe. 153 15.2 32 23 735 Exe. 154 11.3 14.9 130 Exe. 155 12.1 195 571 Exe. 156 8.3 37 37.7 52 Exe. 157 5.9 43 34.7 156 Exe. 158 8.3 81.9 1040 Exe. 159 8.0 35.4 44.3 642 Exe. 160 7.8 186 4100 Exe. 161 12.2 7.9 86.9 1340 Exe. 162 6.8 22.5 30.6 330 Exe. 163 11.6 24 32.9 998 Exe. 164 30.7 71.5 198 2950 Exe. 165 5.5 6.6 41.0 1070 Exe. 166 11.5 27 45.5 1640 Exe. 167 16.1 23.8 262 1230 Exe. 168 12.0 7.9 11.6 31 Exe. 169 14.6 43 340 Exe. 170 5.6 96 31.6 230 Exe. 171 12.4 30.2 1980 Exe. 172 14.8 74 197 Exe. 173 22.5 80 254 Exe. 174 5.4 60.6 240 Exe. 175 4.9 9.8 30.5 270 Exe. 176 5.7 40 60 Exe. 177 9.5 37 690 Exe. 178 5.3 34.7 159 4880 Exe. 179 10.5 51.5 206 Exe. 180 9.8 31.7 152 Exe. 181 7.1 4.8 25.7 23 Exe. 182 14.7 32 17.0 752 Exe. 183 13.6 56 15.7 230 Exe. 184 7.6 73.4 310 610 Exe. 185 12.3 46.4 1480 Exe. 186 5.0 27.5 53.3 640 Exe. 187 6.8 34.3 63.8 638 Exe. 188 17.2 19 23.5 34 Exe. 189 10.7 29.8 19.3 260 Exe. 190 11.9 87 74.3 875 Exe. 191 11.8 10 9.4 2530 Exe. 192 17.5 20 2910 Exe. 193 10.9 6.8 7.4 2300 Exe. 194 10.5 8.8 9.5 2320 Exe. 195 6.1 13 10.1 790 Exe. 196 11.8 13 14.6 2500 Exe. 197 5.7 14.2 3290 Exe. 198 8.3 5.7 740 Exe. 199 14 11.7 11 3700 Exe. 200 10 5.5 3180 Exe. 201 11.4 326 239 Exe. 202 12.7 246 66 Exe. 203 16.2 61 539 Exe. 204 9.3 72 1850 Exe. 205 25.1 13 9.2 1090 Exe. 206 14.6 8.2 1650 Exe. 207 10.2 8.3 71 Exe. 208 14.9 37 9.8 640 Exe. 209 8.4 9.0 5.9 51 Exe. 210 11.8 19 17 636 Exe. 211 7.8 6.4 2.3 190 Exe. 212 5.5 20.1 21.1 177 Exe. 213 10.7 7.2 79 Exe. 214 9.4 11.5 180 Exe. 215 13.2 19 14.5 618 Exe. 216 10.6 10 11.8 536 Exe. 217 9.9 8.9 2.3 178 Exe. 218 9.1 7.8 3.1 21 Exe. 219 11 8.3 8.8 632 Exe. 220 14.9 7.1 4.6 240 Exe. 221 6.7 11 7.8 1270 Exe. 222 8.7 17.3 490 Exe. 223 6.9 9.0 3430 Exe. 224 9.5 29 22.4 4700 Exe. 225 10.7 11 12 5720 Exe. 226 9.1 11 3530 Exe. 227 17.2 27 34.4 17800 Exe. 228 14.7 12 3330 Exe. 229 13.4 6.9 3170 Exe. 230 11.7 20.7 12 830 Exe. 231 11.6 12.5 7.1 310 Exe. 232 11 14 10.9 418 Exe. 233 8.1 18.5 559 Exe. 234 9.9 16 6.8 63 Exe. 235 13.4 22 12.2 1290 Exe. 236 9.5 21 7.1 404 Exe. 237 13.9 3.7 730 14900 Exe. 238 15.6 57.3 2220 Exe. 239 9.7 7.0 27.2 930 Exe. 240 19.1 27.2 1040 Exe. 241 17.9 9.1 61.5 1770 Exe. 242 16.7 372 4630 

We claim:
 1. A compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof

wherein: R₁ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, halo or cyano; M is CH or N; L is O, NH or N(CH₃); A is CR₅ or N; W is CR₆ or N; R₂, R₅ and R₆ are independently hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, halo, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl or cyano; X, Y, and Z are independently CH or N; and R₃ and R₄ are independently hydrogen, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, C₂₋₆ alkenyl, hydroxyl-C₁₋₆ alkyl, di-(C₁₋₆ alkylamino)-C₁₋₆ alkyl, amino, C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₃₋₇ cycloalkylamino, di-(C₁₋₆ alkyl)amino, amino-C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₁₋₆ alkoxy-C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₁₋₆ alkoxycarbonyl-C₁₋₆ alkylamino, di-(C₁₋₆ alkoxy-C₁₋₆ alkyl)amino, aminocarbonyl, C₁₋₆ alkylaminocarbonyl, di-(C₁₋₆ alkyl)aminocarbonyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkylaminocarbonyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₃₋₇ cycloalkoxy, hydroxyl-C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆ haloalkoxy, amino-C₁₋₆ alkyl, amino-C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆ alkylsulfonyl, C₂₋₆ alkenylsulfonyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkylsulfonyl, heterocyclyl optionally substituted by B, aryl optionally substituted by B, heteroaryl optionally substituted by B, C₁₋₆ alkylsulfonylamino, C₂₋₆ alkenylsulfonylamino, C₃₋₇ cyclooalkylsulfonylamino, amido, C₁₋₆ alkylcarbonylamino, C₂₋₆ alkenylcarbonylamino, C₃₋₇ cyclooalkylcarbonylamino, C₁₋₆ alkoxycarbonylamino, C₃₋₇ cycloalkoxycarbonylamino, ureido, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ halocycloalkyl, heterocyclyl-oxy, piperidinylamino, N-methyl-piperidinyl-4-carbonyl, piperazinyl-C₁₋₆ alkyl, pyrrolylcarbonylamino, N-methyl-piperidinylcarbonylamino or heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆ alkoxy; or R₃ and R₄ together form a 3 to 8-membered ring with the atoms in the aromatic ring to which they are attached; and B is hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, halo, hydroxyl, aryl, amino, C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₃₋₇ cycloalkylamino, di-(C₁₋₆ alkyl)amino, cyano, or C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl.
 2. The compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the NHCONH and L substituents on the central aromatic ring are in a 1,3-configuration.
 3. The compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the NHCONH and L substituents on the central aromatic ring are in a 1,4-configuration.
 4. The compound according to any one of claims 1-3, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein L is o.
 5. The compound according to any one of claims 1-3, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein L is NH or N(CH₃).
 6. The compound according to any one of claims 1-5, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein X, Y, and Z are all CH.
 7. The compound according to any one of claims 1-5, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein one of X, Y, or Z is N and the other two are CH.
 8. The compound according to any one of claims 1-7, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein M is CH.
 9. The compound according to any one of claims 1-7, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein M is N.
 10. The compound according to any one of claims 1-9, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein A is CR₅.
 11. The compound according to any one of claims 1-9, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein A is N.
 12. The compound according to any one of claims 1-11, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein W is CR₆.
 13. The compound according to any one of claims 1-11, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein W is N.
 14. The compound according to any one of claims 1-13, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R₁ is hydrogen or C₁₋₃ alkyl.
 15. The compound according to any one of claims 1-14, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R₂, R₅ and R₆ are independently hydrogen, C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₃ haloalkyl, halo, or cyano.
 16. The compound according to any one of claims 1-15, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R₃ and R₄ are independently hydrogen, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, C₂₋₆ alkenyl, hydroxyl-C₁₋₆ alkyl, di-(C₁₋₆ alkylamino)-C₁₋₆ alkyl, amino, C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₃₋₇ cycloalkylamino, di-(C₁₋₆ alkyl)amino, amino-C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₁₋₆ alkoxy-C₁₋₆ alkylamino, C₁₋₆ alkoxycarbonyl-C₁₋₆ alkylamino, di-(C₁₋₆ alkoxy-C₁₋₆ alkyl)amino, aminocarbonyl, C₁₋₆ alkylaminocarbonyl, di-(C₁₋₆ alkyl)aminocarbonyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkylaminocarbonyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₃₋₇ cycloalkoxy, hydroxyl-C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆ haloalkoxy, amino-C₁₋₆ alkyl, amino-C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₆ alkylsulfonyl, C₂₋₆ alkenylsulfonyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkylsulfonyl, heterocycle optionally substituted by B, aryl optionally substituted by B, heteroaryl optionally substituted by B, C₁₋₆ alkylsulfonylamino, C₂₋₆ alkenylsulfonylamino, C₃₋₇ cicyoalkylsulfonylamino, amido, C₁₋₆ alkylcarbonylamino, C₂₋₆ alkenylcarbonylamino, C₃₋₇ cicyoalkylcarbonylamino, C₁₋₆ alkoxycarbonylamino, C₃₋₇ cycloalkoxycarbonylamino, ureido, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ halocycloalkyl, heterocyclyl-oxy, piperidinylamino, N-methyl-piperidinyl-4-carbonyl, piperazinyl-C₁₋₆ alkyl, pyrrolylcarbonylamino, N-methyl-piperidinylcarbonylamino or heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆ alkoxy.
 17. The compound of claim 16, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein one or both of R₃ and R₄ are independently a heterocyclyl-oxy group selected from pyrrolyloxy, piperidinyloxy, furanyloxy and azetidinyloxy.
 18. The compound of claim 16, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein one or both of R₃ and R₄ are independently an optionally substituted aryl group selected from phenyl and naphthyl.
 19. The compound of claim 16, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein one or both of R₃ and R₄ are independently an optionally substituted heteroaryl group selected from furyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, thienyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, 1,2,3-thiadiazolyl, benzimidazolyl, indolyl, indazolyl, benzoisothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzoisoxazolyl, quniolinyl and isoquinolinyl.
 20. The compound of claim 19, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the hereroaryl is pyridinyl, oxazolyl, or triazolyl.
 21. The compound of claim 16, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein one or both of R₃ and R₄ are independently an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group selected from piperidinyl, piperazinyl, homopiperazinyl, azepinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, quinuclidinyl, thiadiazolidinyl, benzothiazolidinyl, benzopyrrolidinyl, dihydrofuranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, dihydropyranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, thiomorpholinyl, 1-oxo-thiomorpholinyl, 1,1-dioxothiomorpholinyl, dihydroquinolinyl, dihydroisoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl and tetrahydroisoquinolinyl.
 22. The compound of claim 21, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the optionally substituted heterocyclyl is N(R₇)piperazinyl, N(R₇)piperidin-4-yl, pyrrolidinyl, 2-oxopyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl, 2-methylmorpholinyl, 2,6-dimethylmorpholinyl, 2-oxomorpholinyl, 3-(dimethylamino)pyrrolidinyl, 2-oxo-5-methyloxazolidin-3-yl, 3,3-difluoroazetidinyl, fluoropiperidinyl, hydroxylpiperidinyl, or 1,1,-dioxothiomorpholinyl, and R₇ is hydrogen, C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₃ haloalkyl, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, C₁₋₅ acyl, or C₃₋₆ cycloalkylacyl.
 23. The compound according to any one of claims 18-22, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein B is hydrogen, C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₃ haloalkyl, halo, hydroxyl, aryl, amino, C₁₋₃ alkylamino, C₃₋₅ cycloalkylamino, di-(C₁₋₃ alkyl)amino, cyano, or C₃₋₅ cycloalkyl.
 24. The compound of claim 23, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein B is hydrogen, halo, hydroxyl, C₁₋₃ alkyl, C₁₋₃ haloalkyl, or di-(C₁₋₃ alkyl)amino.
 25. The compound of claim 16, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R₃ and R₄ are independently halo, cyano or C₁₋₃ haloalkyl.
 26. The compound according to any one of claims 1-15, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R₃ and R₄ together form a 3 to 8-membered ring with the atoms in the aromatic ring to which they are attached.
 27. The compound according to claim 1, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, having following structures:


28. A process of preparing a compound of Formula (I), including reaction of compound (II):

with compound (III):

Wherein M, L, A, W, X, Y, Z and R₁ to R₄ are as defined above.
 29. A process of preparing a compound of Formula (I), including reaction of compound (II):

with compound (IV):

Wherein M, L, A, W, X, Y, Z and R₁ to R₄ are as defined above.
 30. A process of preparing a compound of Formula (I), including reaction of compound (V):

with compound (VI):

Wherein M, L, A, W, X, Y, Z and R₁ to R₄ are as defined above.
 31. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to any one of claims 1-27, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
 32. A compound according to any one of claims 1-27, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use as a medicament.
 33. Use of a compound according to any one of claims 1-27, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in the preparation of medicament for the treatment of cancer.
 34. A method of treating cancer comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to any one of claims 1-27, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein cancer is colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, melanoma, neuroblastoma, cervical cancer, kidney or renal cancer, leukemia, or lymphoma.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the cancer is breast cancer, colon cancer, lung or prostate cancer. 